Visual art can greatly aid in ideation/brainstorming efforts. This presentation discusses many of the ways to enhance your ideation with art!

1. ART & IDEATION Imagery and Imagination In the Work of Innovation Focus Kevin L. Miller Innovation Focus Artist and Senior Consulting Facilitator

11. POSTERS Task Themes Task Theme Posters describe the challenge for which the ideation group will invent solutions. A series of Task Theme Posters can help a group understand the parameters of the job to be done – scope and boundaries. Task Theme Posters can describe a set of potential areas in which challenges might be addressed and solutions invented. Task Theme Posters provide a visual record of the group’s charter and help to persuade management and the larger organization of the need for the project. TASK : INVENT A ZERO-CARBON FOOTPRINT LIFESTYLE Task Theme Poster to stimulate ideation – Kevin Miller, I.F.

13. SEGMENT PERSONALITY ART Inventing Products, Services and Solutions for Targeted Customer Segments Segment Personality Art is an effective way to focus an ideation team on specific needs and preferences of demographic groups they want to attract and serve. Portraits and written descriptions evoke the presence and life stories of actual people. Segment Personality Art and stories are created by combining data from real customer research to create fictional individuals who can accurately portray specific demographic groups. Grandma Thelma, Head of Household Segment Personality Poster to stimulate ideation – Kevin Miller, I.F.

14. BUSY YOUNG PROFESSIONAL Al Green, Print Production Manager Al is a 38-year-old married father of three young children, including baby daughter Jennifer, born just six months ago, so he doesn’t get much sleep at night. That makes life extra tough for this ambitious print production manager for a large Chicago publication house. “People fall behind in their writing, editing and art schedules, but they don’t want to push back the delivery date, so the rush always lands on us, and we have to make up for lost time,” laments Al. On top of all that, Al Green is also working hard to get his MBA nights and weekends, because he readily admits, “I want to run this whole place some day. I don’t plan to be just a production manager forever, you know!” Al Green, Print Production Manager Segment Personality Art to stimulate ideation – Kevin Miller, I.F.

15. LOW SOCIO-ECONOMIC BLUES Joy Neal, Truck Stop Waitress Joy Neal is a 45-year-old truck stop waitress at “The 18 Wheeler” on I-40 just east of Memphis. She moved into her dad and mom’s trailerhouse there 8 years ago after both her parents were killed in a drunk driving incident. She still has one of their old dogs, 3 cats, and 4 big parrots her boyfriend Ed brought with him when he moved in 3 years ago after Joy’s last child left home. Living in a trailerhouse, Joy worries about tornadoes and wants to buy a real house, but she can’t seem to get ahead, while helping her 3 grown kids support her 5 grandchildren. Ed lost his job at the liquor store, and at 60 he doesn’t want to work anymore anyway. So Joy buys a lot of lottery tickets and hopes to win big and buy a real house. Joy Neal, Truck Stop Waitress Segment Personality Art to stimulate ideation – Kevin Miller, I.F.

16. 45 to 90-second Rapid Image Art to accompany handwritten Concepts Sheets Kevin Miller, I.F. RAPID IMAGES 45 – 90-second Rapid Image sketches to accompany handwritten Concept Sheets In group ideation, participants often write one-page concept sheets to develop a wish headline from the brainstorming flip charts into a next stage rough concept for further consideration. Drawing a rapid image sketch in front of the group while the writers report their concepts not only entertains the participants and holds their attention on the ideas, but also adds visual clarity to a display wall of 30 to 200 handwritten concept sheet. People often comment that without the sketches they’d have trouble recalling concept details.

17. 45 to 90-second Rapid Image Art to accompany handwritten Concept Sheets Kevin Miller, I.F.

18. 45 to 90-second Rapid Image Art to accompany handwritten Concept Sheets Kevin Miller, I.F.

19. CONSTANT IMAGING Nonstop Art Production of Posters and Murals during Ideation Sessions & Meetings Constant Imaging is art production all through group meetings that may include presentations, Q & A, ideation sessions, and small group discussions. The murals and/or posters that are the Constant Imaging deliverables provide a visual history of the topics covered and the experience of the meeting. These can be used to illustrate the notes and other communications about the event and its accomplishments to a wider audience. Some groups have even made T-shirts from this art to celebrate the experience.

24. Visual Recording in Meetings to create a visual Art & text record – Kevin Miller, I.F. Visual Recording in Meetings to create a visual Art & text record – Kevin Miller, I.F. VISUAL RECORDING Visual Art and Text Record of Meeting Presentations and Events Produced in Real Time Visual Recording is note taking through visual art and text of group meetings that may include presentations, ideation sessions, and small group discussions. The murals and/or posters that are the Visual Recording deliverables provide a history of the topics covered in visual art and calligraphy. These can be used to illustrate communications & publications about the event and its accomplishments to a wider audience. Some groups make other gift items from this art to help everyone remember the experience.

25. Visual Recording in Meetings to create a visual Art & text record – Kevin Miller, I.F. Visual Recording in Meetings to create a visual Art & text record – Kevin Miller, I.F. Visual Recording in Meetings to create a visual Art & text record – Kevin Miller, I.F. Visual Recording in Meetings to create a visual Art & text record – Kevin Miller, I.F. Visual Recording in Meetings to create a visual Art & text record – Kevin Miller, I.F.

26. 72 panels painted by meeting participants & assembled as mural – Kevin Miller, I.F. MURALS Group participation or single artist murals created during conferences and meetings When produced on many canvas boards taped together, pieces of a mural can be meaningful souvenirs of the experience. In some cases the artist sketches the line art and participants are invited to paint in the colors and details however they wish, producing a quilt-like composition when all the panels are assembled at the end of the event. Whether the group or the artist paints all the panels, the mural can be photographed and then taken apart so that everyone can have a detailed piece of the event to take home with them. One of the 72 mural panels was given to each participant as this I.F. meeting ended

27. Color Art Board (fictitious example) – Kevin Miller, I.F. Color Art Board for consumer testing and development – Kevin Miller, I.F. ART BOARDS Art Boards in color, gray tones or black and white line art for consumer testing/ development After the ideation sessions and selection of concepts for consumer testing and development, Art Boards in color, gray tones, or black and white can be useful in defining concepts for focus groups, and presentation to management, whether concepts are left deliberately ambiguous for refinement, or drawn in detail to get reaction to specific forms and features. Final art boards can serve almost like prototypes for consumer testing and provide a clear record of developmental decisions and concept selections.

28. Detailed Gray Tone Art Boards eliminate color as a variable – Kevin Miller, I.F. Detailed Gray Tone Art Boards eliminate color as a variable – Kevin Miller, I.F. Detailed Gray Tone Art Boards eliminate color as a variable – Kevin Miller, I.F. Detailed Gray Tone Art Boards eliminate color as a variable – Kevin Miller, I.F.

29. Black & White Line Art Boards suggest that a concept is open to revision – KLM, IF Black & White Line Art Boards look intentionally simple & developmental – KLM, IF Black & White Line Art Boards don’t have to be boring! – Kevin Miller, I.F.

30. WHY INCLUDE ART? Because… IT WORKS! When art is part of the party, participants are engaged and delighted, experiencing significantly enhanced understanding and value in their search for solutions. Those who experience the power of art in creative problem solving, research and post-portfolio processes, cannot imagine attempting them without it thereafter. Art lingers in hallways, lunchrooms and offices years after projects end, keeping on with the I.F. promise to inspire deep understanding and meaningful innovation long after its original purpose has been fulfilled. Art helps us to be more creative.