Brainstorming sessions
Brainstorming sessions are essential for generating creative, innovative project ideas, especially for a logo and visual identity competition. They actively involve volunteers and organisers, allowing valuable contributions and a sense of ownership of the creative process. They can define publicity strategies, solve organisational challenges and improve planned events.
1. Brainstorming objectives
a) Ideas for competition publicity
- Volunteers and organisers can suggest new publicity campaigns: innovative ways to reach entrants, alternative channels such as TikTok or local podcasts, and teaser events to attract attention.
b) Solving logistical challenges
- For challenges such as managing many entrants or coordinating volunteers, brainstorming can produce creative solutions from the people directly involved.
c) Extracurricular activities
- Develop activities adding value: design workshops, travelling exhibitions of submitted work or talks by local artists.
2. Planning an effective session
a) Set a clear objective
- Begin with a defined question: “How can we attract more young designers?”, “What innovative methods could promote the event locally?” or “How can the final exhibition involve as many community members as possible?”
- Ensure everyone understands the purpose and main problem or theme.
b) Create an open, safe environment
- Encourage everyone to contribute, regardless of their position. Welcome every idea, including unusual ones.
- Make clear that there are no wrong ideas and every suggestion matters, even if it is not implemented immediately.
c) Use structured techniques
- Sticky notes: Each person writes a quick idea without immediate discussion. Once everyone has several, place them on a board, group them and discuss.
- Rotating ideas: Start with one person's idea and ask everyone to build on it with a new element or variation. This encourages collaboration and evolving ideas.
- Mind mapping: Put the main idea at the centre, with branches for each sub-idea or variation. This visually organises ideas logically.
d) Set a time limit
- Keep sessions to 30–45 minutes. Longer sessions can reduce concentration and energy. Allocate time to collecting, discussing, evaluating and prioritising ideas.
e) Assign responsibilities
- At the end, give every idea or group of ideas an owner to continue development or implementation, turning ideas into concrete action.
3. Specific brainstorming activities
a) Publicity campaigns
- Aim: Generate innovative ideas to promote the logo competition.
- Activity: Each person suggests a creative approach. Evaluate against budget, audience and feasibility. Examples:
- Social media teasers showing visual fragments of the locality.
- Local influencers creating competition content.
- A preliminary social media contest to generate interest.
b) Organisational challenges
- Aim: Find logistical or administrative solutions.
- Activity: Small groups discuss registration, volunteer management, live events or other areas, then present solutions to everyone.
- Examples: Automate processes such as simplified online registration; create a clear volunteer event calendar; use rapid communication platforms such as Slack or WhatsApp for better coordination.
c) Exhibition and additional events
- Aim: An attractive final exhibition and activities that draw audiences.
- Activity: Invite suggestions for exhibition design, educational workshops and related cultural events.
- Examples:
- An interactive exhibition where visitors vote for their favourite entry.
- An open workshop where entrants learn about logo creation from local designers.
- An exhibition opening with a local artist speaking about visual identity's importance to communities.
4. Following up and implementing ideas
a) Evaluate ideas
- Hold a follow-up meeting to identify ideas ready for immediate implementation and those needing more planning or resources.
- Prioritise by impact and resources required.
b) Delegate responsibilities
- Ensure every selected idea has an owner or implementation team.
- Keep reserve ideas in case initial solutions prove impractical or need adjustment.
c) Feedback and adjustments
- Seek team and volunteer feedback during implementation to adjust promptly. Hold further brief brainstorming sessions to solve emerging problems.
Brainstorming is extremely useful for new ideas and active team and volunteer involvement. Clear objectives, structured techniques and an open environment produce valuable results contributing directly to success. After every session, evaluate ideas, delegate responsibilities and establish a clear implementation plan.
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