Most ideas are like weeds

New ideas are like weeds… shiny new ideas pop up everywhere and you don’t want most of them.

Because of this, design thinking recommends starting with empathy rather than ideas. Since new ideas are so alluring, this is a great rule of thumb… especially if you’re new to the practice. But, I believe it’s more nuanced than that.

Sometimes, having a new idea can be a subtle signal that you’ve noticed a problem or opportunity (consciously or unconsciously) and your brain is quietly working on it in the background.

How do you know if a new idea should be explored or ignored? You need to look at its roots. Dig in and see for yourself. If the new idea is growing out of a need you’ve observed, a problem you’ve seen, or a hunch you have that the world around you could be better in some way, then it has good roots. Water it and help it grow. Otherwise, weed it out.

As you hone your design thinking skills, you’ll increasingly learn how to discern the difference between shiny new ideas to avoid and those subtle signals worth pursuing further.