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Simple & Pragmatic Problem Solving
#75Chapter 6: Group Creative Option Generation• Group Creative OptionsVisual and creative ThinkingGroup (combination of individual work and collective circulation) Mode60-90 Minutes(Time-consuming)

Gallery Method

From the book "Advanced Problem-Solving Toolbox: 115 Creative Plays" | Compiled & Edited by: Mojtaba Goudarzi, Open translation: Mehrshid Goudarzi
Executive Synopsis & Core Logic:

Creativity technique invented at the Battle Institute in Germany; Instead of moving papers, people walk around the room, visiting and inspiring each other's illustrated "gallery of ideas" like museum visitors.

Operational Parameters & Specifications

Category
Group Creative Options
Dominant Thinking
Visual and creative
Participation
Group (combination of individual work and collective circulation)
Estimated TimeTime-consuming
60-90 Minutes
Workshop
Input Format
problem statement, separate whiteboards or flipcharts for each member
Output Format
Idea generation and visual enrichment
Key Application
Design new software features and UI/UX, improve operational processes, formulate strategic plans and develop physical products.
Core Differentiator:

Physical movement of the participants in the environment and simultaneous visual exposure to all the ideas without knowing the identity of the idea owner, along with the cycle of returning to the position and completion.

Quick Field Example:

A product team draws new app features on whiteboards around the room; Each member will stand in front of each board for 5 minutes, get inspiration and then upgrade their skills.

Operational Benefits & Implementation Risks

Advantages & Value Creation:

Breaking the inertia of traditional meetings through physical mobility, early independence in thinking, incredibly powerful cross-inoculation of ideas.

Risks & Potential Trade-offs:

Require large physical space or multiple whiteboards, possibility of crowding and commotion when moving.

Real-World Organizational & Industry Scenarios

Software and application design: visual ideation of user dashboard features on separate wall boards.
Marketing and branding: designing visual concepts of billboards and campaign posters in different advertising agency stations.
Improvement of the factory production line: engineers visiting stations to draw production losses and record ergonomic solutions.

Strategic Rationale & Why to Apply

1Physical activity stimulates blood flow to the brain: standing and walking increase creativity by 60% compared to sitting.
2Freedom from the pressure of instant judgement: first, the person creates ideas in the privacy of his board, and then the ideas are reviewed anonymously.
3The Power of Visual Thinking: Seeing other people's keywords and sketches in one view sparks far-fetched combinations.
4Two-step evolution cycle: After visiting the gallery, people return to their board and refine the initial ideas.

Conceptual Framework & Book Method Description

"Gallery Method" (Gallery Method), which was developed by the researchers of the prestigious Battelle Institute in Frankfurt, Germany, changed the paradigm of idea circulation. In this method, each participant takes an independent space (a flipchart or a certain part of the whiteboard) as his personal gallery and implements his ideas in textual and visual form. After 30 minutes, everyone visits the gallery of others in complete silence and takes notes. Then they return to their place to evolve their ideas based on the inspiration they received.

Step-by-Step Real-World Implementation Scenario

Designing the distinctive features of the new version of the project management software with the gallery method
1
Step 1: Set up gallery stations8 team members (developer, UX designer, support expert and product manager) were each given a separate whiteboard with colored markers.
2
Step 2: Independent creation in the galleries (30 minutes)Each member sketched out their proposed ideas and schematics around ease of task assignment, reporting, and artificial intelligence without talking to others.
3
Step 3: Ideas Exhibition TourA 5-minute timer was set for each station; Members circled the room in silence, jotting down each other's interesting ideas.
4
Step 4: Return to station and second jumpParticipants return to their board; The UX designer transformed the developer's idea about voice shortcuts into the visual design of floating buttons.
5
Step 5: Group Summarization and Features RoadmapThe boards were analyzed side by side and the team unanimously approved 3 key features (voice assistant for tasks, graphical view of dependencies and delay prediction).

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Previous Play (#74)
Excursion Technique
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Gordon/Little Technique
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