ChatGPT Brainstorming: Five Beginner Techniques

TLDR: ChatGPT can make brainstorming faster, more structured, and more creative. These five beginner-friendly techniques — Disney Method, Six Thinking Hats, Attribute Listing, Blue Ocean Strategy, and Lotus Blossom give you step-by-step prompts to generate better ideas and turn them into actionable plans.

Why use ChatGPT for brainstorming?

Brainstorming works best when you combine diverse ideas, structured thinking, and speed. ChatGPT gives you:

• Fresh perspectives – Ideas outside your usual thought patterns.
  
• Speed and structure – Organised outputs in minutes instead of hours.
  
• Flexibility – Works for solo projects or collaborative workshops.
  

If you’re new to AI, the easiest way to start is by applying well-known brainstorming frameworks and letting ChatGPT power each stage.

1. Disney Method — Balancing creativity and realism

Walt Disney’s problem-solving approach divides brainstorming into three roles:

• Dreamer – Generate bold, limitless ideas.
  
• Realist – Filter and adapt ideas for practicality.
  
• Critic – Spot weaknesses and refine.
  

Example prompt:

“Use the Disney Method to brainstorm a sustainable urban transport system. Start with the Dreamer phase.”

Why it works: You separate wild creativity from critical analysis, ensuring ideas stay both imaginative and implementable.

2. Six Thinking Hats — Exploring a problem from every angle

Edward de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats method assigns six perspectives to cover all sides of a challenge:

• White Hat – Facts and data.
  
• Yellow Hat – Benefits and opportunities.
  
• Black Hat – Risks and drawbacks.
  
• Red Hat – Feelings and gut reactions.
  
• Green Hat – Creativity and alternatives.
  
• Blue Hat – Process control and conclusions.
  

Example prompt:

“Let’s use the Six Thinking Hats to improve user engagement on our platform. Start with the White Hat.”

Why it works: You avoid one-sided thinking and uncover both risks and hidden opportunities.

3. Attribute Listing — Breaking problems into parts

This technique dissects a product, service, or process into individual attributes, then looks for improvements in each.

Example prompt:

“Apply Attribute Listing to brainstorm ways to enhance electric vehicle charging stations.”

Why it works: You focus on specific factors — like speed, cost, or convenience — leading to targeted, actionable improvements.

4. Blue Ocean Strategy — Finding untapped opportunities

Blue Ocean Strategy focuses on identifying markets or needs that competitors aren’t serving.

Example prompt:

“How can we apply Blue Ocean Strategy to create innovative online education courses?”

Why it works: It forces you to think beyond current markets, uncover unmet needs, and design solutions with less direct competition.

5. Lotus Blossom Technique — Expanding a single idea into many

Start with a central problem or idea, surround it with related themes, then expand each theme into sub-ideas.

Example prompt:

“Use the Lotus Blossom Technique to brainstorm ways to reduce plastic waste.”

Why it works: You explore every aspect of a problem in depth, building a large, interconnected map of possible solutions.

How to make brainstorming with ChatGPT more effective

• Be specific in your prompts – Include your goal, audience, and constraints.
  
• Run multiple passes – Start broad, then refine with follow-up prompts.
  
• Mix techniques – Combine methods, e.g., run a Disney Method session after a Blue Ocean brainstorm.
  
• Document outputs – Save useful ideas for future projects or refinement.
   

  FAQ

Q: Can I use these techniques for solo brainstorming?
A: Yes, and ChatGPT can simulate multiple perspectives so you’re not limited by your own thinking style.

Q: Do I have to use all five techniques at once?
A: No. Start with one that suits your project’s needs, then experiment with others.

Q: Will AI replace my creative process?
A: No — it enhances it by speeding up idea generation and providing alternative perspectives.

 If you want to integrate these brainstorming techniques into real workflows, our AI Fundamentals Masterclass shows you how to adapt AI for idea generation, planning, and execution so you get results, not just lists of suggestions.