Brainwriting is an ideation technique in which participants write their ideas in silence instead of speaking aloud. Participants then share their ideas and build upon them. Brainwriting levels the field and encourages introverts and junior team members to participate more equally in ideation sessions.
When a team begins its journey of idea generation and problem-solving, brainwriting becomes a powerful technique to guide them. This is not the usual chatter-filled brainstorming session. Instead of speaking, team members write down their thoughts; no interruptions and no fear of criticism.
Brainwriting creates a safe space for all ideas. This quick yet effective activity, which you can complete in 15 minutes, often leads to an impressive array of ideas.
The benefits of this technique surpass traditional brainstorming. With it, you can reduce noise, promote equality, and foster an inclusive environment. Unlike oral exchanges, brainwriting does not favor outspoken individuals. It nurtures quiet voices and invites them into the conversation.
Brainwriting
Brainstorming
6 people in a room come up with 3 ideas each. Once through, they pass on their sheet to the person on their right for new ideas.
Sitting in a room with a whiteboard to record things on, participants start jotting random ideas on it.
Produce more number of ideas in less time.
Consumes more time to come up with a single concrete idea.
No verbal discussion is required as people write their ideas on a sheet of paper.
Ideas are shared anonymously, reducing the chances of bias.
Ideas are shared anonymously, reducing the chances of bias.
Ideas are shared out loud, increasing the chance of bias, counter comments, and negative feedback.
Here at the Interaction Design Foundation (IxDF), we have seen the benefits of brainwriting firsthand. Our experience leading effective brainwriting sessions has given us a wealth of ideas to enhance our design thinking process.
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Brainwriting allows us to navigate the wide ocean of creativity. We follow a robust brainwriting process that encourages every participant to bring forth their most creative solutions.
A brainwriting session is a simple process that can yield a wealth of creative methods and ideas. While several variations exist in the brainwriting process, we’ll outline a general approach below.
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Gather your team members and ensure they understand the brainwriting concept and process. Then, define the problem or topic for which ideas are needed. If it's a remote session, every participant should have paper, a pen, or a digital equivalent. Remote teams face no disadvantages.
Every participant starts writing down their ideas about the defined problem or topic. They can jot these down on sticky notes or a sheet of paper and focus on quantity over quality. This should be a silent exercise that should take about 15 minutes.
Some people are better at idea generation on their own or over a longer period. So, you might want to consider an asynchronous idea generation step instead. Participants would be briefed and allowed a day or two to write down ideas. They would bring these to the idea-sharing session.
Once all team members have their ideas, they share them with the group. They can post the sticky notes on a board or share them digitally during a remote session. Each participant should read the ideas of others without any interruptions or discussions at this point.
Participants then take time to review the ideas put forward by others. They can add comments or build upon these ideas by writing their thoughts on paper or sticky notes. This process emphasizes the collaborative nature of brainwriting, turning it into a quiet, intellectual conversation.
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Follow these guidelines to ensure your brainwriting session is effective:
Silence is golden: For synchronous ideation, silence is crucial. This ensures that everyone's focus remains on their thoughts and ideas.
Quantity over quality: Encourage participants to write as many ideas as possible. This promotes creativity and boosts the total number of ideas generated.
Non-judgmental environment: The session should be a safe space where all ideas are welcome, regardless of how unconventional they may seem. You can save judgment and criticism for later stages.
Collaboration is key: Brainwriting is a collaborative process. Everyone reviews the ideas, provides comments, or expands on them. This collaboration enriches the final pool of ideas.
The brainwriting process brings together the power of collective minds. It creates a collaborative space where the loudest voice does not necessarily command the room. Instead, it promotes equality. Each thought is seen, each idea is heard, and each participant plays an integral role in the creativity game.
The output is a treasure of diverse ideas that might have remained unvoiced in traditional brainstorming sessions.
Download the Brainwriting template and start using this technique with your team!
While brainwriting is an effective tool for idea generation, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. It has several variations that accommodate different team sizes, dynamics, and objectives, each having unique features and benefits. Let’s look at two notable variations.
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As the name suggests, the 6-3-5 method involves six participants who come up with three ideas each in five minutes. It yields a total of 108 ideas in 30 minutes.
The process starts with each participant writing down three ideas on paper. These are in response to the problem statement the group is addressing. After a five-minute interval, each participant passes their sheet to the next person. The recipient then reads the ideas on the sheet and adds three new ones using the existing ideas for inspiration. This continues until everyone has contributed to each sheet.
The beauty of the 6-3-5 method lies in its structured approach and the momentum it generates. As ideas pass from one participant to another, they spark new thoughts. It leads to a snowball effect of idea generation. This technique encourages building upon others' ideas while creating a sense of collaboration and collective creativity.
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The brainwriting pool approach offers more flexibility compared to the 6-3-5 method. In this process, participants write down their ideas on individual sheets of paper. They then place them in the "pool" (a central location).
Other participants can pick any idea from the pool, read it, and use it as inspiration for their own ideas. This allows for a wider range of inspiration and encourages participants to think outside the box. Additionally, the brainwriting pool approach eliminates the pressure of coming up with ideas on the spot. That’s because participants can take their time to browse through the pool and select the ideas that resonate with them.. The process continues for a designated amount of time, and as a result, a diverse set of ideas builds up.
The brainwriting pool is particularly beneficial when a broad range of ideas is needed. It offers more freedom to the participants in choosing the ideas they want to build upon.
© Interaction Design Foundation, CC BY-SA 4.0
Brainwriting offers several notable advantages, making it an effective tool for creativity and problem-solving. Here’s an overview of the advantages that brainwriting offers.
Brainwriting encourages every team member to share ideas. Brainwriting provides an equal platform for all, unlike verbal brainstorming sessions, where dominant personalities can overshadow quieter voices. Each participant writes down their thoughts, which creates an environment of inclusivity and results in a rich diversity of ideas.
In a traditional brainstorming session, the status or personality of the contributors might sway ideas. Brainwriting minimizes this bias. It focuses on the ideas themselves, not on who presents them. This leads to a fair evaluation of ideas based on merit and relevance.
Brainwriting emphasizes the generation of a large number of ideas. Each participant can contribute multiple thoughts. It often leads to a significant collection of potential solutions.
Brainwriting's collaborative yet anonymous nature can lead to more candid idea generation. Team members may feel more comfortable sharing unconventional or radical ideas when focusing on the idea rather than the individual proposing it.
While brainwriting is a powerful tool, it may pose specific challenges. You can address these challenges through well-considered strategies to ensure a productive and positive ideation session.
Sometimes, participants may hesitate to share their thoughts due to fear of judgment or lack of confidence. This could lead to limited participation.
Solution: Foster a non-judgmental and inclusive environment. Remind participants that all ideas are valued, and the goal is to generate many ideas rather than perfect ones. Encourage participants to write freely and assure them that critique and evaluation come later.
Creating a collaborative atmosphere in a brainwriting session can be challenging in remote settings.
Solution: Encourage divergent thinking. Prompts or themes can be provided to help inspire fresh and unconventional ideas. Stress that you welcome radical, out-of-the-box thinking and actively encourage it.
With every participant generating multiple ideas, the quantity can be overwhelming, and managing them might be challenging.
Solution: Plan for idea organization. Create a system to categorize and prioritize the ideas after they're generated. You can use tools such as affinity diagrams to group related ideas and dot voting to prioritize them.
Creating a brainwriting session's collaborative atmosphere can be challenging in remote settings.
Solution: Leverage digital tools. Several online platforms allow for real-time collaboration and idea sharing. These can replicate a physical brainwriting session's dynamic and offer advantages like easy categorization and permanent records.
A positive and inclusive team environment is crucial for overcoming these challenges. It ensures all participants feel valued and heard, which boosts participation and idea generation. With proper strategies, brainwriting can unleash creativity, leading to innovative solutions that enrich the collective goal.
In this digital and remote work environment, using technology to facilitate brainwriting has become necessary and advantageous. Digital tools allow for remote participation and offer features that can streamline and enhance the brainwriting process.
Several online platforms enable virtual collaboration, making them suitable for remote brainwriting sessions. Here are a few recommended options:
Google Jamboard: This digital whiteboard platform allows team members to create and share real-time sticky notes. It's a simple yet effective tool replicating brainwriting's physical process in a digital environment.
FigJam: FigJam serves as a versatile digital tool designed for team collaboration. It goes beyond mere brainwriting and extends into diagramming meetings, and agile workflows. The tool also integrates with Asana, Jira, and Github, making it easier to turn brainstormed ideas into actionable plans.
Miro: Miro offers a more feature-rich experience, providing an extensive toolkit for brainstorming and ideation sessions. Participants can add sticky notes, draw, create flowcharts, and even vote on ideas. It's an excellent choice for more complex brainwriting sessions.
Microsoft Whiteboard: Similar to Google Jamboard but integrated with the Microsoft ecosystem, this platform offers real-time collaboration. It has features like sticky notes, drawing tools, and image uploads.
Despite the challenges, remote brainwriting offers several benefits in today's digital age:
Flexibility: It allows team members to participate regardless of location. This ensures all voices are heard, even in distributed teams.
Accessibility: Digital tools often come with features that increase accessibility. These include adjustable text sizes, color differentiation, and compatibility with assistive technologies.
Record Keeping: Online platforms automatically save the work and create a permanent session record to revisit later. This eliminates the risk of losing ideas and allows for easy sharing and reviewing after the session.
Efficiency: Digital categorization and voting tools can streamline the review and prioritization process. This way, you can easily manage a large number of ideas.
Integrating technology into brainwriting sessions has never been more relevant. These virtual platforms facilitate innovative, inclusive, and practical ideation sessions as we navigate the evolving digital landscape.
Brainwriting's versatility makes it applicable in various contexts, from business and design to education. Its flexibility allows it to be adapted to different problem-solving scenarios, providing a powerful approach to idea generation across domains.
Brainwriting can address countless challenges in the business world, be it strategic planning, marketing innovations, or process improvements.
For instance, a company might use a brainwriting session to generate ideas for a new product launch. Team members from different departments could contribute diverse perspectives. It can lead to various promotional ideas that combine sales strategies, advertising creativity, and customer engagement tactics.
Brainwriting helps in creating user-centered design through innovative solutions and creative designs in the design field.
In service design, it helps develop streamlined processes focused on user needs.
In product design, brainwriting stimulates the creation of functional and aesthetically pleasing products that resonate with consumers.
In graphic design, it can generate fresh and engaging visual communication concepts.
In interaction design, it encourages the ideation of intuitive interfaces that foster seamless user interactions.
For a quick introduction to user-centered design, see this video by Don Norman, the pioneer of UX design.
Every designer has a unique perspective and ideas that they can write. Brainwriting creates a collective pool of creativity that the team can work with.
For example, a design team could hold a brainwriting session to develop new solutions or introduce features to solve users’ problems and improve user experience. As the team shares and builds upon these ideas, it can converge on a design that merges the best elements from each concept.
The education industry can benefit significantly from brainwriting. Teachers can use it to generate lesson plan ideas, educational strategies, or methods to increase student engagement. Meanwhile, students can use brainwriting to work on group projects or to generate creative solutions in problem-based learning scenarios.
For example, during a class project, students could hold a brainwriting session to develop ideas for their project topic, research methods, presentation strategies, and more.
In each of these contexts, the core principle remains the same:
Every participant writes down their ideas.
Everyone's ideas are valued equally.
You leverage the collective creativity of the group.
You can tailor the brainwriting process's specifics to suit the context's unique needs and characteristics.
The versatility of brainwriting lies in its ability to accommodate different problem-solving scenarios across a wide range of fields. It stands as a testament to the adaptability of this ideation technique and its capacity to promote innovation in diverse settings. Therefore, brainwriting isn't just a tool; it's a flexible strategy to unleash creativity and encourage collaborative problem-solving.
Brainwriting is a dynamic evolving process. The technological advancements and innovative ideation techniques point towards exciting future trends in brainwriting methodologies.
The digital era has unlocked the potential for remote brainwriting, making this collaborative process more accessible and efficient. Even tools like Google Spreadsheets can be harnessed for brainwriting. The immediacy of idea sharing on these digital platforms enables participants to draw inspiration from others' thoughts in real time.
As technology advances, we can expect even more sophisticated tools to enhance the brainwriting process. These may offer features like instant categorization, advanced collaborative capabilities, and AI-assisted idea generation.
Studies suggest that digital brainwriting can significantly improve idea generation. This highlights the potential for further advancements in brainwriting tools and platforms. As technology evolves, we can see smarter platforms that offer features designed specifically for brainwriting. For example, these could be AI-based idea categorization or automatic transcription for verbal brainwriting.
The future of brainwriting is indeed exciting, with technology paving the way for enhanced collaboration, innovation, and efficiency. As we adapt and evolve these methodologies, brainwriting proves to be a valuable and highly cost-effective idea-generating technique. It promises to remain a potent tool in our creativity arsenal for collaborative idea generation.
If you're interested in learning more about brainwriting and other ideation techniques and iterative approaches, consider joining us in our journey of exploration and learning.
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Brainwriting differs from brainstorming in how ideas are shared. In brainstorming, people speak their ideas out loud in real time, which can lead to louder voices dominating and quieter ones holding back. Brainwriting flips that script in that everyone writes down ideas silently and simultaneously, usually on paper or digitally.
This method gives every team member equal space to contribute, without interruption or judgment. It also prevents group thinking because people don’t get influenced by others’ ideas right away. After a set time, the group shares and builds on the written ideas together.
Brainwriting also works well in remote teams or when time is tight. It’s focused, fast, and inclusive, making it a good option when you quickly want diverse ideas.
Watch our video about brainstorming:
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To start, clearly define the problem or challenge. Ensure everyone understands what they’re brainwriting. Next, give each participant a sheet of paper—or digital document—and ask them to write down three ideas in a few minutes. Then, everyone passes their sheet to the person next to them. The new person reads and builds on the ideas or adds several new ones. Keep the process moving in rounds until each sheet returns to its original owner or the group runs out of time.
After the writing rounds, collect and review the ideas. Group similar ones and discuss the most promising solutions together.
Watch our video about brainstorming:
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The sweet spot for a brainwriting session is six to eight people. This size strikes the right balance—enough idea variety without overwhelming the process. Too few people risk not generating enough diverse input, while too many can make tracking and building on ideas chaotic and slow things down.
Ideas circulate smoothly in a group of six, seven, or eight; each participant gets a good mix of perspectives, and everyone has time to contribute meaningfully. This range also helps maintain energy and focus throughout the session.
If you’re working remotely, use digital tools to manage documents or boards, especially with larger groups. However, keep the core team small whenever possible to get the best results.
Watch our video about brainstorming:
Take our course Creativity: Methods to Design Better Products and Services.
To avoid idea copying in brainwriting, use silent and anonymous writing rounds. Make sure participants can’t see who wrote what. In a physical session, fold or hide previous entries. In a digital setup, use anonymous documents or tools where names stay hidden.
Set clear rules at the start so everyone tries to generate original ideas or build meaningfully on existing ones, not just repeat them. Time each round tightly to keep the flow going and prevent overthinking or mimicry.
Rotate the sheets or documents randomly, too. This keeps patterns unpredictable and encourages independent thought. A little structure can go a long way in protecting the creative process and promoting fresh, authentic, diverse ideas.
Watch our video about brainstorming:
Take our course Creativity: Methods to Design Better Products and Services.
Great brainwriting challenges are specific, user-centered, and open-ended. Ask questions like: “How can we make onboarding smoother for first-time users?” or “What features would help remote teams collaborate better?” These types of prompts spark targeted yet diverse ideas.
Focus on real pain points or unmet needs. Keep the challenge narrow enough to guide thinking but broad enough to allow creative freedom.
You can also reframe problems using “How might we…” questions—for example, “How might we reduce decision fatigue in our app’s UI?” This framing encourages possibility-driven thinking and keeps the tone constructive.
Tailor the challenge to your product stage—early ideation, refining features, or solving usability issues—and you’ll likely get insights that can be effective for the problem at hand.
Watch our video about brainstorming:
Take our course Creativity: Methods to Design Better Products and Services.
Start with a well-crafted challenge. Frame it as a “How might we…” question to focus thinking while remaining open-ended, like “How might we simplify user onboarding?” Specific prompts unlock sharper, more relevant ideas.
Time the rounds tightly to maintain energy and avoid overthinking. Use silent writing to help everyone focus, and rotate ideas quickly to spark fresh input. Encourage building on others’ ideas—not just creating new ones. Iteration often leads to breakthroughs.
Mix up your team, too. Bring in people with different roles or backgrounds to widen perspectives—diverse input often produces more original and useful solutions.
Note—if the energy dips, pause and reframe the challenge. A small shift in wording can breathe new life into the session.
Watch our video about brainstorming:
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Avoid group discussion during the writing rounds—talking breaks the focus and can influence ideas. Keep the room silent so everyone can think independently and write their thoughts. Then, don’t allow dominant voices to steer the session. Brainwriting works best when everyone contributes equally.
Skip vague or overly broad prompts. The challenge needs to be clear, or people will either get stuck or go off-topic. Likewise, don’t rush the process. Allow enough time for each round—typically 3 to 5 minutes—to let ideas take shape without dragging on.
Avoid tracking names or tying ideas to individuals. Anonymity helps remove bias and encourages honest, uninhibited input. And never judge or filter ideas during the session; the evaluation comes later. That way, creativity flows authentically and without fear of criticism.
Watch our video about brainstorming:
Take our course Creativity: Methods to Design Better Products and Services.
After a brainwriting session, group similar ideas to spot patterns and themes. Use color coding or tags to cluster related suggestions. This step makes it easier to see what resonates across the team.
Next, filter out duplicates and unfeasible options. Then prioritize the remaining ideas using criteria like impact, effort, or alignment with user needs. A simple matrix or voting system can help the team decide what to pursue.
Once you've narrowed the list, turn the strongest ideas into sketches, prototypes, or user stories. Then test these with users to validate their value early. Don’t let ideas sit in a document—tap their potential and turn them into action.
Watch our video about brainstorming:
Enjoy our Master Class Harness Your Creativity to Design Better Products with Alan Dix, Professor, Author and Creativity Expert.
Shaer, O., Cooper, A., Mokryn, O., Kun, A. L., & Ben Shoshan, H. (2024). AI-augmented brainwriting: Investigating the use of LLMs in group ideation. arXiv.
This study explores how large language models (LLMs) can enhance the traditional brainwriting process, particularly within group ideation. The authors designed a collaborative framework integrating LLMs for both idea generation (divergence) and evaluation (convergence). Conducted with university students, the study demonstrated that LLM support improved both the quantity and depth of ideas. An LLM-based evaluation engine also reliably assessed idea quality compared to human judges. This research is significant as it bridges human creativity with AI capabilities, proposing novel directions for HCI education and design practice. It marks a foundational step in incorporating AI in structured co-creation activities like brainwriting.
Langham, J., & Paulsen, N. (2021). Simulating the cognitive leap using brainwriting. Design Management Journal, 16(1), 85–101.
This study examines the effectiveness of digital brainwriting in enhancing idea generation during remote collaboration. The authors conducted an online experiment with participants from a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), utilizing a structured brainwriting process to simulate creative ideation. Findings revealed that approximately 53% of the ideas generated were novel and more sophisticated compared to those from a pre-session control activity. The research highlights the potential of digital brainwriting to improve both the quality and quantity of ideas in remote settings, offering valuable insights for organizations seeking innovative solutions in virtual environments.
Mattimore, B. W. (2012). Idea Stormers: How to Lead and Inspire Creative Breakthroughs. Jossey-Bass.
Bryan W. Mattimore’s Idea Stormers offers a structured, real-world approach to ideation in organizations, making it a cornerstone resource for innovation leaders. Drawing on his facilitation experience with over 300 companies, Mattimore demystifies group creativity by introducing methods like brainwriting, brainwalking, and wishful thinking. These tools are designed to produce not just more ideas, but better and more actionable ones. The book emphasizes that ideation is both an art and a science—one that thrives on structure and skilled facilitation. It is particularly important for UX teams, product designers, and business strategists aiming to tackle complex challenges with breakthrough solutions.
Neubauer, B. (2005). The Write-Brain Workbook: 366 Exercises to Liberate Your Writing. Writer’s Digest Books.
Bonnie Neubauer’s The Write-Brain Workbook is a comprehensive guide designed to stimulate creativity through daily writing exercises. With 366 prompts, it encourages writers to overcome blocks, explore various genres, and develop a consistent writing practice. The workbook’s playful approach makes it accessible to both novice and experienced writers, fostering a habit of daily writing and self-expression. By providing diverse and imaginative exercises, Neubauer helps writers discover their unique voice and enhance their storytelling skills. This resource is invaluable for anyone looking to cultivate creativity and maintain a regular writing routine.
Here's the entire UX literature on Brainwriting by the Interaction Design Foundation, collated in one place:
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