Gamestorming

6-3-5 Brainwriting

This is a silent brainstorming exercise. Participants build on each other's ideas in structured rounds. Six people generate three ideas in five minutes, then pass their sheet to a neighbor. This structured iteration yields 108 ideas in 30 minutes.

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Duration
30 mins
Group Size
4-6
Category
Gamestorming
Difficulty
Easy
The goals are to generate many ideas through silent iteration, give quieter team members a voice, systematically build on ideas, and foster collaborative ideation without groupthink.

  • Completed 6-3-5 brainwriting exercise.

  • Systematic idea generation process.

  • A diverse set of ideas.

Silence is critical for this exercise. It benefits introverts and prevents vocal participants from dominating the session. Enforce the time limits strictly. If the group has fewer or more than six people, adjust the format (e.g., 4-4-5: 4 people, 4 ideas, 5 minutes). Encourage participants to build on previous ideas, not just add random ones. The quality of ideas may dip in the middle rounds as novelty decreases. That's normal. Some of the best ideas come from combining elements across different rounds. This works well for product feature ideation or solving specific design challenges. Follow up with dot voting to identify the top concepts.

  1. Setup (3 minutes): Form a group of six participants. Provide each person with a worksheet (grid with 6 rows and 3 columns). Review the challenge or 'How Might We' (HMW) question. Explain the process: write three ideas, pass the sheet, and build on the previous ideas. Emphasize the need for silence during all rounds.

  2. Round 1: Original Ideas (5 minutes): Each person generates three original ideas. Sketch and/or write these ideas in the three columns on their worksheet. Work silently and independently. Keep ideas concise and clear for others to understand.

  3. Rounds 2-6: Building Rounds (25 minutes total):


  • Round 2 (5 minutes): Pass the sheet to the person on the right.

  • Read the previous ideas.

  • Build on, combine, or vary each idea.

  • Add a new row with three evolved ideas.

  • Rounds 3-6 (4 minutes each): Repeat the passing and building process.

  • In each round, participants receive a sheet with more ideas.

  • Build progressively on the accumulated concepts.

  • The sheet returns to the original owner after six rounds.


  1. Review (included in rounds): The original owner reviews all iterations. They see how their ideas have evolved. They identify the most promising concepts and combine the best elements from different iterations.

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For Facilitators

  • Review participant profiles and expectations
  • Prepare all materials and supplies
  • Test technology and room setup

For Participants

  • Complete pre-session survey
  • Review background materials
  • Prepare examples or case studies

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  • 6-3-5 worksheets (grid with 6 rows, 3 columns)

  • Pens or pencils for each participant

  • Timer with clear signals

  • Table for all participants

  • Problem statement or 'How Might We' (HMW) question displayed

  • Optional: Pre-printed worksheets with headers, colored pens for different rounds, example completed worksheet, inspiration materials or constraints

Unlock Materials Required

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