This document describes the "Sunshine Radiator" brainstorming tool for generating new product ideas. The tool involves: 1) Articulating the problem or opportunity at the center of the process. 2) Listing attributes associated with the problem and drawing them radiating outward. 3) Dissecting each attribute with more details and symbols. 4) Randomly selecting attribute pairs and asking how they could be combined, modified, or substituted to address the original problem. 5) Iterating the process of attribute combination, dissection, and clustering until the best solutions emerge.

1. Brainstorming Tool: Sunshine Radiator

2. “We design with people and let the
appropriate design solutions emerge from
within.”
Emily Pilloton,
Project H Design Founder &
Author of Design Revolution

3. Brainstorming helps us:
1. Probe deeply into
customer and business
problems.

4. Brainstorming helps us:
2. Re-frame the questions we
are asking ourselves

5. Brainstorming helps us:
3. Unleash our creativity to
come up with new product
ideas, unconstrained by
process, governance and
budgets.

6. Brainstorming, is
useful throughout
the Product Delivery
Cycle, in particular
at Ideation Stage
when Product
Managers articulate
the customer or
business problem.

7. So How Do We
Brainstorm?

8. Articulate the customer or
business problem.
Summarise the problem at the heart of the ‘sun’. Problem
Step 1

9. Step 1: Example

10. List or draw as many attributes
associated with the problem.
Attributes may be associated objects, thoughts, emotions,
sensations, sounds, tastes, and smells…anything that comes to
mind.
Problem
Attribute
Step 1

11. Step 2
Problem
Attribute
Attribute
Attribute
Attribute
Attribute
AttributeAttribute
Attribute

12. Step 2: Example

13. Step 3
For each of the attributes, that
radiate around the problem,
dissect each attribute further
with more keywords and
graphical symbols.

14. Step 3

15. Step 4
Randomly pick any 2
attributes.
AttributeAttribute

16. Step 4: Example

17. Ask how you could morph,
combine, and/or substitute aspects
of any of the attributes generated
with something else, including
other attributes to create a solution
to the original problem.
Attribute AttributeStep 5

18. Attribute Attribute
Step 5
Attribute
Attribute
Attribute
Attribute
Attribute
AttributeAttribute
Attribute
Morph
CombineSubstitute
Attribute
Morph
Substitute
Substitute
Combine
Combine

19. Morph
Combine
Substitute
Combine
Substitute
Step 5: Example

20. Keep iterating with random
combinations of attributes,
dissecting and clustering until
you come up the best solutions
that create maximum value for
your target market.
Step 6

21. Step 6
AttributeAttribute
Solution
Solution
Solution
Solution

22. Step 6: Example

23. Go on… radiate a ray of sunshine
into your idea!Photo by Dawn Ellner

24. Connect with Brainmates
24
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