Brainwriting with an Ideation Template

How many times have you entered a brainstorm where everyone tries to talk over each other? Or someone’s over-dominating the conversation and noone else gets a chance to air their views? Consider using this brainwriting technique (as opposed to ‘brainstorming’).

What is Brainwriting?

Brainwriting is a structured ideation technique where:

1. People write down ideas individually (silent)
2. Ideas are shared on a visible surface (e.g., whiteboard, shared template)
3. People build on and improve ideas (without attribution)
4. The group discusses and synthesizes

It’s like brainstorming, but everyone writes instead of calling out ideas.

Why Brainwriting Works Better

Everyone Gets Heard

In traditional brainstorming, whoever talks loudest is heard. Brainwriting ensures everyone contributes equally.

Deeper Thinking

The silence invites reflection. People think more deeply about their ideas before writing them down.

Anonymity Encourages Risk-Taking

Ideas are often anonymous (or at least decoupled from the person), so people feel safer suggesting unconventional ideas.

Builds on Ideas

Because ideas are written down, people can easily build on and improve them—the group thinking gets richer.

Less Managing

There’s no need to manage who speaks next or prevent people talking over each other. The structure creates order naturally.

How to Facilitate Brainwriting

Setup

1. Define the challenge clearly. “How might we…?” works well
2. Give each person the same prompt and writing space (you can use our template)
3. Distribute markers, sticky notes, or use a shared digital template

Round 1 (Silent Writing)

• Set a timer (5, 10, or 15 minutes depending on context)
• People write ideas in silence
• Ideas can be words, drawings, or sketches
• Encourage getting lots of ideas out, not worrying about quality

Round 2 (Display and Clustering)

• All ideas are displayed on a whiteboard or shared space
• Remove duplicates
• Group similar ideas

Round 3 (Building and Refining)

• People write additional thoughts or improvements on existing ideas
• This happens in silence again, or through discussion

Round 4 (Discussion and Synthesis)

• Talk through the themes that emerged
• Discuss, combine, or build on the best ideas
• Decide which ideas to pursue

The Template

We’ve created an A3 brainwriting template that makes facilitation easy:

• Space for the challenge at the top
• Multiple sections for ideas
• Room for supporting notes and improvements
• Designed to be printed and shared, or used digitally

When to Use Brainwriting

• Starting meetings: Get everyone’s input on a problem
• Design sessions: Generating design directions
• Retrospectives: Gathering improvement ideas
• Problem-solving: Looking for solutions to blockers
• Strategy sessions: Exploring strategic options

Anywhere you need diverse ideas but traditional brainstorming isn’t getting the participation you want.

Variations

Brainwriting Round-Robin: Each person writes, then passes their paper to the next person who adds ideas (like a creative game of Chinese whispers)

Brainwriting Lotus: Use a lotus diagram format for more structured ideation

Digital Brainwriting: Use shared docs or collaborative tools for remote teams

The Science

Brainwriting produces:

• More ideas (quantity)
• More diverse ideas (because quieter voices are heard)
• Higher quality ideas (because building happens)
• Higher participation (everyone has equal voice)
• Less groupthink (ideas aren’t pushed by the loudest voice)

Pro Tips

• Set clear time limits: This creates urgency and prevents overthinking
• Encourage volume: Aim for quantity, not quality
• Combine ideas: Two medium ideas can become one great idea
• Keep it visual: Even if ideas are written, drawings help understanding
• Build in anonymity: If helpful, collect ideas without names attached
• Use the template: Templates make facilitation easier and faster

Closing Thought

If you find your brainstorms are dominated by certain voices or don’t generate good ideas, try brainwriting instead. The technique is simple, but the shift in participation and thinking quality can be significant.

Download the Template

Click the template below to download the full-size A3 brainwriting template, suitable for printing.

Download Brainwriting Template (A3, JPG)