Question

Which of the following is not a recommended brainstorming rule during the ideation process?

• A. Encourage wild ideas
• B. Build on the ideas of others
• C. Criticize ideas immediately to save time
• D. Defer judgement

Hint:

During brainstorming, focus entirely on quantity over quality. Separate the generation of ideas from their evaluation; get all the wild ideas out first, and save the critique and filtering for later.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks us to identify which of the listed brainstorming practices goes against established design thinking rules and should be avoided during ideation.

Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
The foundational rules of productive brainstorming, popularized by design firms like IDEO, include: 1. Defer judgment (do not criticize).
2. Encourage wild and unusual ideas.
3. Build on the ideas of others (using “Yes, and...” instead of “No, but...”).
4. Go for quantity.
5. Be visual and stay focused on the topic.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
The practice of criticizing ideas immediately to save time (Option C) directly violates the core rule of deferring judgment. Criticizing or shooting down ideas early in a session makes participants hesitant to share, stifles creativity, and halts the flow of innovative concepts. Therefore, it is a bad practice that must be avoided.

Step 4: Final Answer:
Immediate criticism of ideas is not a recommended brainstorming rule, matching option (C).