Design Playbook (Tools & Practices)

 

Idea Parking Lot: Capture impractical ideas without killing them — they may spark something later.

Divergence → Convergence Mapping: Clearly mark when the group is in idea-generation vs. decision-making.

Two-Stage Brainstorm: Round one = no evaluation; round two = prioritisation.

Red/Green Cards: Participants hold up green cards for divergence mode, red for convergence mode — a visual reminder of the switch.

 

Mindset (Reflection & Journaling)

 

Do I tend to judge too quickly or too slowly?

What would happen if I suspended judgment for longer than usual?

How do I know when it’s time to switch judgment back on?

 

Provocation:

“Judgment is not the enemy of creativity. Mistimed judgment is.”

 

Facilitation Principle

 

As a facilitator, your role is to guide the timing of judgment. Make it visible. Name when the group is diverging and when it is converging. Protect the early stages from premature critique, and bring discipline into the later stages.

 

Facilitator’s Mantra: “Not yet… now.”

 

Facilitation Toolkit (Methods & Activities)

 

Yes, And Sessions: Warm up with “Yes, and…” rounds to defer judgment.

Dot Voting: Quick convergence to prioritise ideas democratically.

Feasibility–Impact Matrix: Judge ideas against clear criteria.

Silent Brainstorming: Prevents early judgment from louder voices.

Debrief Switch: Pause to reflect as a group: Are we still diverging, or is it time to converge?