Idea Development

Designing the Right Solution

From wild ideas to focused concepts. You’ve defined your challenge — now it’s time to start imagining what could solve it. But slow down — don’t rush into building the first idea that pops into your head.
This is your space to diverge, explore, and dream a little bigger.

01

Ideation (a.k.a. Creative Chaos)

Set a timer. Grab a pen, a whiteboard, or your laptop.

Rules of Ideation:

  • Go for quantity, not perfection;

  • No idea is too wild — suspend judgment;

  • Build on others' ideas ("Yes, and…");

  • Sketch if you can — visuals help!

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Activity: 15 Ideas in 15 Minutes

Try to come up with at least 15 different ways to solve your challenge. Yes, really. Don’t stop at 3.

They can be:

  • Physical products

  • Digital tools

  • Services

  • Behavioural nudges

  • Community-led ideas

  • Even fictional/magic ones — go wild first, refine later.

02

Select & Shape

Now it’s time to converge — narrow down your ideas. Use the Impact vs Effort Matrix to rate ideas:

Impact
Effort
Result
High
Low
QUICK WINS
High
High
BIG BETS
Low
Low
MAYBE / BACKLOG
Low
High
AVOID

Ask yourself:

  • Which ideas solve the problem best?

  • Which ones are doable right now?

  • Which ideas feel exciting to you and your team?

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Bonus: Share your top 3 ideas with a friend or mentor. Which one gets them excited?
03

Solution Snapshot

Fill out this quick canvas to shape your chosen idea:

What is your idea?
A simple one-sentence description
Who is it for?
Your primary user
What problem does it solve?
Be clear and specific
How does it work?
Short explanation of the concept
What makes it innovative?
Why this, not that? What’s unique here?
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Activity: Complete the Solution Snapshot Canvas with your team
04

Real Talk

  • Don’t fall in love with your first idea — test it, shape it, evolve it;

  • Every big idea started small and slightly weird;

  • You can always come back and pick another idea later.

05

Key Takeaways

Generate lots of ideas before selecting one
Use tools like the Impact–Effort Matrix to prioritise smartly
Use the Solution Snapshot to clearly articulate your concept
Get feedback early — your solution will only get better