Ideation is the process of creating ideas to solve problems.
Ideation is the origin and development of a process that allows generating an idea. With ideation, a concept, a project, a theory, etc. is produced, strengthened and communicated.
Create ideas
It can be said that ideation consists of the intellectual work that makes it possible to create ideas to solve a particular problem or to propose something new. In this framework, a notion is given shape that can then be materialized in different ways.
In general, ideation is the first step towards a design of any kind. A mental image or perception works as triggers for the beginning of this process which, upon completion, offers a result that can be shared.
Ideation phases
In ideation we can distinguish several phases . The first phase is the production of ideas itself, linked to imagination. Then comes the evaluation phase, where the ideas generated are compared with each other and those that are not feasible are discarded. The third phase of ideation is the materialization of what was imagined and analyzed.
It is important to keep in mind that these phases are not always carried out in a linear manner and without setbacks. On the contrary, it is usually a path with twists and turns and with the intervention of several people.
Idea production
As mentioned above, both this phase and the other two can be interspersed and occur more than once in each ideation process . Similarly, the source of ideas is not the same for all people; In fact, even for the same one it can vary from one case to the next.
Everyday life can be a perfect source for the production of ideas, regardless of the field. It doesn't matter if we dedicate ourselves to writing, science or cooking, among many other possibilities, inspiration can surprise us at any moment . This is how ideation begins.
Assessment
The second phase of ideation is the most difficult to overcome, since no matter how many ideas we produce, many times none of them pass the evaluation successfully. Creative people often experience an intense flow of energy when they are inspired, as if giving birth to a being they love above all others, but once the time comes to examine ideas closely, that bond can fade completely. to give way to another.
For this reason, the ideation process is not always carried out in order: if an idea is not considered useful, it is discarded and never reaches materialization, but rather it is necessary to start again with production . Depending on the scope and the number of people involved, one or more ideas can be evaluated simultaneously, either immediately after production or later.
Few ideas make it past the evaluation phase.
Materialization
The "luckiest" ideas reach this third and final phase, which is when they are realized, worked on to become something tangible , within the limits of the project. For example, if it is a software tool to correct an error in an operating system, it is applied directly to it.
Of course, its effectiveness is not guaranteed, so there is the possibility of having to start the process again. It is important not to allow frustration to invade us, but rather to focus on our objectives and let the ideation flow until we achieve them.
Psiglo Album
“Ideación” , finally, is the title of the debut album by Psiglo , a Uruguayan rock group that was active between 1971 and 1975 . The album, made up of eight songs, was presented in 1973 and reissued twenty years later.