Idea Card

The card helps bring focus to the main idea and as such can support refining solutions for specific challenges. It helps create clarity after diverging sessions of brainstorming and can be used to support conversations with diverse audiences.

The tool is useful for developing SI projects as both: (1) a synthetic and constructive overview of the solution, inclusive of the context, needs and overarching objectives; and (2) a communication and ‘on-boarding’ tool for external stakeholders to gain support. 

As such, the tool is a generative tool useful for development and growth purposes. 

The tool is meant to capture the essence of the idea to solve the challenge in a ‘quick and dirty’ manner. It is a useful way to get thoughts onto paper quickly but in an organized manner. This is effective when brainstorming in a group to build off ideas and to communicate with others. In short, it adds tangibility to ideas and helps start conversations on the different aspects of the idea to consider. While it can be done individually, it is best done in a group or accompanied by consultation with actors/stakeholders that carry specific knowledge of the challenge or service system. 

The tool is best completed in a group with relevant stakeholders in order to have a holistic approach and perspective on how to best solve (an aspect of) the challenge and provide an effective solution for the beneficiaries and the service providers. Actors are engaged in a small group to brainstorm and develop the different parts of the card together.

The activity takes about 2-3 hours. The total time allotted however is dependent on the level of detail desired and number of stakeholders engaged. As a quick sketch of the idea, it should be a relatively short exercise but one that can be re-visited in multiple iterations after feedback from stakeholders, discovery research, prototyping and testing.  

1. Start the activity by defining your challenge and the specific needs that you are addressing. This can be done by making use of your own knowledge or by consulting with other experts of the challenge space. For this activity, detailed information on the challenge (e.g. statistics, numbers, policy mix, etc.) is a bonus but it is unnecessary to launch a full ‘discovery’ phase for the scope of the activity, which is to get the idea on paper (organize your thoughts) and be able to gather rapid feedback (communication tool to refine, iterate and gain support).  
2. Now, think about what it would look like if the challenge were solved. Be as descriptive as possible and visual representations are encouraged! Remember that a picture is worth a thousand words. 
3. Now that your challenge is framed, clarify your own idea. What can it achieve and how could it be accomplished? If inclined and armed with the tools, feel free to add some metrics that could be used strategically to design for impact. 
4. Share your final results for feedback! 

As a generative tool, its purpose is to be evaluated by relevant stakeholders in the challenge space, refined and iterated. There is however no reason to evaluate the activity itself. 

The card should be translated into the local language if possible. Sketches can also be used instead of text, if preferred. More categories with further information can be added if desired (e.g. stakeholders involved, funding opportunities, policy frameworks, etc.). Keep in mind that other tools exist for more detailed insight of the solution (e.g. social business model canvas) and the idea card is meant to be a quick overview of the key points. 

As already an outline of the idea, the current categories should be included to maintain the basic knowledge needed to present an idea and its context of need.