A 90-minute ideation workshop agenda that ends with decisions
A tested 90-minute ideation workshop agenda: framing, silent ideas, building on each other, a first prioritisation and clear next steps.
Most ideation workshops produce a wall of sticky notes and no decisions. This agenda is built the other way round: it starts from the decision you need at the end and spends the time accordingly. It fits 5 to 12 people and 90 minutes.
Before the workshop
- Write the question as one sentence. "How might we get first-time customers to order a second time within 30 days?" works. "Customer loyalty" does not.
- Send the question and one page of context two days before. People who had time to think bring better ideas and talk less in circles.
- Invite one or two outsiders. Someone from support, sales or a customer. They see what the core team no longer sees.
The agenda
| Time | Block | Goal |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 10 | Framing | Everyone understands the question and what happens with the results. |
| 10 to 25 | Silent ideas | Many ideas from everyone, before the discussion starts. |
| 25 to 50 | Share and build | Ideas are explained, merged and improved. |
| 50 to 70 | First prioritisation | A shortlist the group stands behind. |
| 70 to 85 | Next steps | Owners, first steps and dates. |
| 85 to 90 | Check out | What was decided, what happens next. |
Block by block
Framing (10 minutes)
Read the question out loud, share the context in three sentences and say what will happen with the results. Name the constraints that are fixed (budget, deadline) so nobody spends energy on them.
Silent ideas (15 minutes)
Everyone writes ideas alone, one per card. Silence matters: it doubles the number of ideas and protects quieter people from being anchored by the first loud proposal. Ask for at least five ideas each, including one that seems too bold.
Share and build (25 minutes)
Each person presents their ideas in one sentence each, without discussion. Then cluster, merge duplicates and ask: which idea could become better by combining it with another?
Write questions and concerns that come up on their own cards. They are not distractions; they are the material for the next steps.
First prioritisation (20 minutes)
Use a quick method such as the impact and effort matrix or dot voting with three votes per person. The goal is a shortlist of three to five ideas, not a final ranking.
Next steps (15 minutes)
For each idea on the shortlist: who owns it, what is the smallest next step, and by when? A next step is something that teaches you something: a call with a customer, a mock-up, a cost estimate.
Check out (5 minutes)
Read the decisions out loud and send the summary the same day. A workshop whose results arrive a week later is half forgotten.
Let AI facilitate your next workshop
IdeaHone keeps time, asks the next question and makes sure every voice is heard, so you can focus on the people in the room.
Frequently asked questions
How many people should take part in an ideation workshop?
Five to twelve. With fewer, you lack perspectives; with more, split into groups for the silent ideas and the sharing.
Can I run this agenda remotely?
Yes. Use a shared board for the silent ideas and keep cameras on during sharing. Plan five extra minutes for technical friction.
What if the group cannot agree on a shortlist?
Make the disagreement visible: score the contested ideas silently and discuss only the biggest gaps. If it stays open, write it down as an open question with an owner who brings the missing facts.