Brainstorming Ideas Into Designs

Overview

Transform rough ideas into fully-formed designs through structured questioning and alternative exploration.

Core principle: Ask questions to understand, explore alternatives, present design incrementally for validation.

Announce at start: "I'm using the Brainstorming skill to refine your idea into a pitch."

The Process

Phase 1: Understanding

• Check current state by reading the post, 'discussion.md' and other materials in the post folder
• Ask ONE question at a time to refine the idea
• Prefer multiple choice when possible
• Gather: Purpose, constraints, success criteria

Phase 2: Exploration — go wide before going narrow

• Generate 5-8 genuinely different angles first, one line each, including at least two you think are wrong. Breadth is the product of this phase; a shortlist of three that all say the same thing is a failed brainstorm.
• Then narrow to 2-3 and develop those: core structure, trade-offs, what each one costs

For blog posts — vulnerability framing: When exploring emotional hooks or opening angles, FIRST ask: "What personal experience from your own life connects to this topic?" Use the user's answer as the source. Do not construct a vulnerability from the subject matter itself — it must come from a real experience the user shares.

• Ask your human partner which approach resonates

Phase 3: Presentation

• For a new pitch: present in one or two paragraphs
• To edit an outline or post: show what you intend to change
• Ask after each section: "Does this look right so far?"

Phase 4: Implementation

When the pitch or idea is approved and implementation will follow:

• New pitch: save the pitch in the post folder
• Edit an outline or post: make the change

Phase 5: Record discussion

Create or update the 'discussion.md' in the post folder using the note-taking skill.

When to Revisit Earlier Phases

You can and should go backward when:

• Partner reveals new constraint during Phase 2 or 3 → Return to Phase 1 to understand it
• Validation shows fundamental gap in requirements → Return to Phase 1
• Partner questions approach during Phase 3 → Return to Phase 2 to explore alternatives
• Something doesn't make sense → Go back and clarify

Don't force forward linearly when going backward would give better results.

Remember

• One question per message during Phase 1
• Generate generously, select ruthlessly — YAGNI applies to what survives the shortlist, never to what you are willing to put on the table
• Go wide (5-8 angles) before narrowing to 2-3
• Present incrementally, validate as you go
• Go backward when needed - flexibility > rigid progression
• Announce skill usage at start
• For blog posts and newsletters, reference /docs/Houfu_Voice_Guide.md when exploring approaches
• Houfu's voice favors: frameworks over advice, nuance over binary thinking, vulnerable admissions over polished authority