Six Thinking Hats as Idea Generation method

Idea generation is the most interesting and the easiest part of ideation and innovation. The Six Thinking Hats method is a simple and effective technique for analyzing ideas from different perspectives. Developed by Edward De Bono in 1985, it has helped innovation teams analyze ideas creatively and productively. The six thinking styles each represent a different colored hat and can be used early in the idea generation process to ensure analysis from different standpoints. The white hat presents objective data, analyzes the available facts and figures, and identifies resources and new technology. The red hat represents emotions and feelings, while the black hat provides cautious and defensive thinking to identify risks and difficulties. The yellow hat expresses logical optimism and identifies the value of the idea, and the green hat represents creative thinking in generating new ideas. Finally, the blue hat summarizes and concludes the potential of the idea. The method encourages structured use of different thinking styles and can be practiced during brainstorming sessions or integrated into innovation management software.