Random Input

Purpose

Random Input disrupts habitual thinking patterns by introducing an unrelated stimulus into the creative process. The brain is a pattern-making machine — given any random word or image alongside a problem, it will find connections. These forced connections often lead to surprising, high-quality ideas that conventional brainstorming cannot reach.

At a glance

• Group size: 3–15
• Duration: 20 minutes
• Difficulty: Low
• Facilitation style: Facilitator provides random stimuli; teams ideate
• Setting: Any workshop room

How to run

1. State the challenge (2 min): Write the problem on the board.
2. Introduce a random word (1 min): Open a dictionary, use a random word generator, or draw from a prepared deck. Reveal the word. E.g., "umbrella", "volcano", "kindergarten."
3. List associations (5 min): Brainstorm everything the random word makes you think of: properties, functions, emotions, contexts, related objects.
4. Connect to the challenge (8 min): For each association, force a connection to the problem. "Umbrella = protection from above. How could we protect users from information overload?"
5. Select ideas (4 min): Review all forced connections. Star the 2–3 most promising ideas.

Materials needed

• Random word cards, dictionary, or random word generator app
• Sticky notes and markers
• Whiteboard for the challenge statement
• Timer

Pitfalls & common mistakes

• Choosing a "relevant" word: The word must be random. Choosing something related defeats the purpose.
• Giving up too quickly: "I can’t connect this" means you need to push harder. Every word connects if you try.
• Only one random input: Run 2–3 rounds with different words for richer results.
• Stopping at the association list: The value is in step 4 — the forced connection. Don’t skip it.

Inclusion & accessibility

• Use words in the team’s primary language.
• Offer image cards as an alternative for visual thinkers.
• Allow individual brainstorming time before group sharing.

Variations

• Random image: Use a random photograph instead of a word.
• Random object: Bring a physical object (a toy, a kitchen tool) and explore its properties.
• Random person: Ask "How would [random famous person] solve this?"

When NOT to use this

• When the team needs convergence, not more divergent ideas.
• When stakeholders would find the approach unserious (without prior framing).
• When the challenge requires domain-specific expertise that random connections cannot provide.

Source & further reading

• de Bono, Edward — *Lateral Thinking* (Harper & Row, 1970)
• de Bono, Edward — *Serious Creativity* (HarperBusiness, 1992)
• Michalko, Michael — *Thinkertoys* (Ten Speed Press, 2006)