Play Shiritori to Brainstorm New Creative Ideas.
Limiting your brainstorming session may seem counterproductive, but it actually helps bring your ideas to life . The Japanese game of Shiritori is an easy way to brainstorm whether you are looking for ideas for a new project, book, or physical product.
The basic idea of ​​shiritori is that you start with a word and then come up with another word that starts with the letter that ends the first word. Customize this to apply to brainstorming, thinking both of the ideas and the next word. As toy developer Shimpei Takahashi explains in his TED talk above, let’s say you start with the word cat. In his case, he designs toys, so what would a cat-themed toy look like? Then move on to something that starts with a t, maybe a toothbrush. How to turn a toothbrush into a toy? (Spoiler alert: you turn it into a guitar-shaped brush.)
Most of the ideas you come up with won’t necessarily be very helpful, but that’s okay, because the goal is just to come up with as many ideas as possible. You’re bound to have one or two great ones, and an important part of the brainstorming session has already taken place: you’ve opened the floodgates and are creative.
Shimpei Takahashi: Play This Game To Come Up With Original Ideas | TED Talks (YouTube)