Feature brainstorming and mind mapping generate a wide range of ideas before any filtering. A mind map radiates from a central concept, encouraging free association and non-linear thinking.
Early ideation before any solution commitment, and when a team is stuck recycling the same ideas.
- Write the central problem or opportunity in the middle
- Branch outward with major themes or categories of solution space
- Under each theme, add feature ideas, concepts, or approaches freely
- Don't filter — capture everything including 'crazy' ideas
- After 20-30 minutes, look for clusters and unexpected connections
- Vote on the most promising ideas to carry into deeper exploration
Central: 'Help users discover music they'll love.' Branches: Algorithm (mood detection, BPM matching, history), Social (friend activity, shared taste maps), Context (time of day, location-aware, activity-based), Serendipity (radio-style randomness, weekly surprise), Artist (artist-curated playlists). The Social branch leads to a discussion about why sharing music feels vulnerable — a key insight.
Please contact the author for more information on these examples at linkedin.com/in/kshitijrege
- Filtering ideas during the brainstorm — defer all judgement until after the session
- Staying in your comfort zone — push for at least one 'impossible' idea per branch
- Doing it alone — diverse perspectives produce richer, more surprising maps
- Gamestorming — Dave Gray et al.