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Introduction | Stimulating creative process | Structuring output | Filtering and ranking

Filtering and ranking

The creative process can produce very large numbers of ideas for consideration, the sheer volume of which can be daunting. It is therefore important to identify and agree a simple set of criteria, based on the inclusive design intent as captured by the requirements specification, and on acceptable levels of design and business risk.

Filtering and ranking involves

  • Clustering similar ideas
  • Removal of all ideas which the team are sure do NOT meet the criteria, or are not technically appropriate
  • Combining desirable attributes, elements or principles to form a reduced number of improved concepts
  • Ranking concepts based on fit to the agreed criteria

Initially, when ideas are not well developed, it may be difficult to predict how well they could ultimately satisfy the different criteria. The most pragmatic approach is to use a group of suitable individuals who can provide an educated indication of fit with all of the agreed criteria.

The filtering process starts with a large number of ideas, which are then clustered together. Bad ideas are then removed, desirable attributes are combined and the resulting ideas are ranked.

The process of filtering reduces the number of concepts that are considered, while allowing their most desirable attributes to combine

Introduction | Stimulating creative process | Structuring output | Filtering and ranking