A digital tool can help capture, organise, visualise, or review ideas; it does not replace a good question or professional judgement. Choose it for the task, not for the number of features.
| Need | Tool type | Selection question |
|---|---|---|
| Capture | Shared notes or forms | Does it retain context? |
| Organise | Visual board or mind map | Can it group and review ideas? |
| Prototype | Sketch or mock-up | Does it answer uncertainty without full build? |
| Follow up | Board or record | Does it show owner, hypothesis, and review? |
Before using a tool, review accessibility, permissions, privacy, storage, export, cost, and continuity. For personal, confidential, or regulated information, use only authorised solutions and the minimum necessary data.
Exercise
Compare two options by task, access, data, risks, and reason for choosing. A visual board may support ideation without sensitive data; for a simple decision, a shared document may be sufficient.
Common mistakes
- Switching tools before defining the challenge.
- Duplicating information with no clear source.
- Uploading sensitive data to try a feature.
Conclusion
Tools support capture, organisation, prototyping, and learning. The final resource is community, which brings references and feedback.
Creativity Course: From Ideas to Solutions
Module 1: Understanding and Activating Creativity
- What creativity is and when it creates value
- Creativity in the professional environment
- Myths and realities about creativity
Module 2: How Creative Thinking Works
- The creative process as an iterative cycle
- Divergent, convergent, and lateral thinking
- Personal and environmental barriers
Module 3: Techniques for Exploring Alternatives
- Brainstorming: generating without judging
- Mind maps: visualising connections
- SCAMPER
- Lateral thinking: challenging assumptions
- Six hats: thinking from several perspectives
Module 4: From Challenge to Solution
- Identifying, defining, and reframing problems
- Generating alternatives for a defined challenge
- Evaluating and selecting ideas with criteria
- Prototyping, implementing, and learning
Module 5: Creativity Lab
- Guided workshop: collaborative brainstorming
- Guided workshop: building a mind map
- Guided workshop: redesigning with SCAMPER
- Case study: innovation in a technology company
- Case study: a creative solution in healthcare