Background Research

Successful improvisation in theater depends on actors performing in surprising and novel ways.  This is accomplished by actors cooperating closely to generate and build on each others’ ideas, connecting them in clever and humorous ways.  These strategies align closely with the widely followed brainstorming rules established by Alex Osborn in his book, Your Creative Power: 1) Withhold judgment, 2) Build on the ideas of others, 3) Generate as many ideas as possible, and 4) Free associate.

Previous research has demonstrated that improvisational activities are useful for brainstorming because these two activities share similar goals, challenges, and ways to resolve problems that block group effectiveness.  Lacking, however, are tools to deliver successfully such activities, particularly to facilitators and groups inexperienced in improvisation.

Hypothesis

The use of improvisational group activities directly before a brainstorming session will encourage greater participation among group members through activities designed to enhance group comfort and focus.  Specifically, the use of Better Brainstorms with inexperienced groups will yield more successful ideation sessions.

Design

The improvisational activities of Better Brainstorms were provided by Improv Encyclopedia.  I coded each activity on 20 measures, ranging from ideal group type (new vs. established) to effectiveness of cultivating group comfort.  I renamed and rewrote each activity to better reflect the context of a pre-brainstorm session, as well make the activities more relevant to designers.  Taking cues from previously successful creativity support tools, such as IDEO’s Method Cards, I sought to demonstrate the benefits of each activity by directly connecting them to one of the four established brainstorming rules.