Struggling to find inspiration in your designs? We’ve all been there. BUT, fear not fellow creative warrior!! This newsletter is filled with out-of-the-box brainstorming hacks that take your UI/UX to the next level!

1. Now you can also think how a mind mapping rubric might look like! Mind maps spider out ideas from a central topic. Follow ideas without restraint, leaving aside separation of tangents and watching them weave together.

2. Crazy 8s: a pen shootout round with only the time you did not have to stick Try setting a timer for 8 minutes and quickly producing at least 8 different design ideas on separate pieces of paper. Let yourself run wild — get really weird!

3. Roleplay: Be the User Create user personas from team members and let them role-play different interface use cases. This exercise in empathy can expose surprising challenges or opportunities.

4. Reverse Brainstorming: Turn the table! Rather than thinking your way out of it brainstorm all the ways that this design could fail. Studying these “doomsday” outcomes may highlight where the weaknesses are and drive creative ideas.

5. SCAMPER: The acronym stands for Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to other uses, Eliminate and Rearrange. Like the process to challenge your assumptions and explore new configuration of design elements.

Break the mold! Step Out of Your Normal Brainstorming Zone Go for a nature walk, hit up the museum or give an online collaborative mind mapping tool like Creately.

Don’t forget: the secret is that great brainstorm is a judgement-free zone where you can explore wild ideas so enjoy and have fun. Crazier the better for break through ideas!

Happy designing!