Idea + Action = Ideation

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At some point of time, every person takes a pause and lets out a 'if this could have been done some other way' or 'this could have been much better done’. Sadly, at that point the neurons stop and the germ of an idea ceases to exist in the blink of an eye. Rather, a more proactive approach would be to question the previous thought ‘how can this be made better’ or ‘what is an alternative option’. This is how an idea is allowed to germinate within that thick skull which offers to become a complex and mind boggling petri dish.

Such an opening begets one to start grappling with the idea of an "idea" and more importantly the concept of "ideation".

What is an idea? Simply put, it is a mental impression that one has of a particular existential object, which is based on reflex, requiring no prior shifting of gears upstairs. It is a set of representational images that instantaneously fit in the head when one traverses any context with their sense organs.

With that out of the way, the spotlight should shift towards ideation. When ideas are allowed to percolate, intermingle with one another, generate new manifestations, metamorphose to suit the context and do other complex chemical equations (which is laborious and involving mathematical, astronomical and nonsensical calculations), the process is largely reflected as being creative and termed as "ideation" by the more handicapped bipeds who roam the terra nova.

Ideation is not an isolated, single event suspended in vacuum. Nor does it originate from a single entity that belches out picture perfect ideas, although it can come from a single source. Ideation thrives in an open source environment, where it is allowed the space to morph through the entire thought cycle, from research to innovation and through development up-to realization.

In such a scenario, it becomes prudent for any organization that wants to stay afloat amidst the cutthroat market competition and the ever-changing trends to develop a repository of sorts, specifically to act as a media where ideas can be cultured and developed.

The simplest way to develop such a silo is to plunk a group of people in a closed environment, create a situation, provide the necessary stimuli and throw the floor open to ideas. A group that is a smacking mix of designers, account managers, production & operation crew, client facilitators and department heads, where ideas can be incubated, developed, thrashed over and be put aside for current or future use is the perfect cocktail. Corporate terminology dictates this veritable "mad house" as a "group discussion". Such a bi-weekly or a monthly discussion delivers fodder for the idea silo, while at the same time providing a casual environment where the group can view issues from fresh perspectives, engage in processes that help stimulate the imagination, overcome shyness and more importantly facilitate collaboration between departments.