Clustering a brainstorming technique
The concept You may already be familiar with the idea of the ‘computer cluster’ – a group of computers linked together so that they, essentially, function as a single unit.
The practice This brainstorming technique operates on a similar principle.
Like a computer cluster, clustering to generate ideas is a non-linear activity It allows you to explore many ideas as they occur to you and to begin without a clear focus Like invention, it is a messy and meandering process
The process
write down a word or idea that you are particularly interested in begin jotting down words or phrases that come to mind surrounding that word join words and idea strings with circles and arrows to establish their associations when you have exhausted one particular string of associations, choose another central word and begin clustering around it again
Example Dragon’s Den shows films Flash of genius Matrix?
innovatio n
Ted THATcamp
Who framed roger rabbit Kuhn Benjamin
Whitman’s poetry Whitman Archive Digital humanitie s web
Gladwell The tipping point