THE IDEATION PHASE OF DESIGN THINKING: 3 STRATEGIES FOR CHOOSING THE BEST IDEAS THAT WILL SUCCEED IN THE MARKET

The Ideation Phase of Design Thinking: 3 Strategies For Choosing the Best Ideas That Will Succeed In The Market.

As a seasoned entrepreneur and innovation expert with 15 years of experience building successful ventures like Skilled For Work Academy and I-Train Africa , I've had the privilege of harnessing the power of design thinking to drive growth and innovation. My experience at UNLEASH a global innovation lab, and organizing local hackathons teaching 30 startups in Nigeria how to use design thinking to innovate, has given me valuable insights into the ideation phase of design thinking.

The Ideation Phase: A Crucial Stage of Design Thinking.

Ideation is the phase of design thinking where creativity knows no bounds. It's a space where wild ideas are encouraged, and possibilities are explored without judgment. According to a study by Adobe, 85% of executives believe that creativity is critical to driving business growth and innovation (Adobe, 2020). Yet, many organizations struggle to cultivate a culture of creativity and experimentation. During ideation, it's essential to generate a multitude of ideas, without worrying about their feasibility or practicality. This is where techniques like brainstorming, mind mapping, and SCAMPER (Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to Another Use, Eliminate, and Rearrange) come in handy. The goal is to produce a plethora of ideas that can be refined and developed further.

3 Strategies for Choosing the Best Ideas. 

Once you've generated a list of potential ideas, it's time to evaluate and select the most promising ones. Here are three strategies that can help:

1. Scalability: Ensure that the idea has the potential to scale and reach a wider audience. According to a report by McKinsey, scalable businesses are more likely to achieve significant growth and profitability (McKinsey, 2018). When evaluating ideas, ask yourself: Can this solution be replicated in different contexts? Can it be adapted to meet the needs of diverse user groups?

2. Independence from Government Funding: While government funding can be essential for some initiatives, it's crucial to ensure that your idea isn't solely reliant on it. According to a study by the National Endowment for the Arts, organizations that diversify their funding streams are more likely to achieve long-term sustainability (National Endowment for the Arts, 2019). When evaluating ideas, ask yourself: Can this solution generate revenue through other means? Can it be sustained through partnerships or collaborations?

3. Ease of Execution: Consider the feasibility of implementing the idea. According to a survey by Project Management Institute, 71% of projects fail due to poor planning or execution (Project Management Institute, 2018). When evaluating ideas, ask yourself: What resources will be required to implement this solution? Are there any potential roadblocks or challenges that need to be addressed?

Applying These Strategies in Real-World Scenarios

Let's take the example of a startup looking to develop an innovative solution for improving access to healthcare. Through design thinking, the startup might ideate solutions such as:

- Developing a mobile app to connect patients with healthcare providers

- Creating a telemedicine platform for remote consultations

- Implementing a community-based health insurance program.

Using the strategies outlined above, the startup might evaluate these ideas based on their scalability, independence from government funding, and ease of execution.

For instance, the mobile app might be deemed scalable and feasible to execute, but reliant on government funding. The telemedicine platform might be considered easy to execute and independent of government funding, but challenging to scale.

What's Your Experience with Design Thinking and Ideation?

As someone who's worked extensively with design thinking and innovation, I'd love to hear about your experiences with ideation and idea selection.

What strategies have you used to choose the best ideas?

What challenges have you faced, and how have you overcome them?

Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Aderinsola Adio-Adepoju (PhD)

Sustainability | Innovation & Entrepreneurship | Global Opportunities | Employability Skills