To select the theme for TEDxRedding 2012, our team...

To select the theme for TEDxRedding 2012, our team played a collaborative game following the steps below. You can too!

INSPIRE

STEP 1: Review lists of past TEDx themes from around the world. We printed off a list, cut it in a bowl, and took turns reading a few off to the group (photo here).

STEP 2: Scan this set* of evocative images and select some that speak to you about “Ideas Worth Spreading” and what you want your TEDx to be all about. (Click here for photo of images we selected as inspiration).

DIVERGE

STEP 3: Using Steps 1 and 2 as inspiration, give each person a piece of paper divided up as indicated in this photo. On the top half, they can write down the beginning of an idea for a theme. Everything is in beta at this point.

STEP 4: Each person should pass the paper one person to the left where the next person in the circle can add to the idea:

ECHO: Free associate, what does this make you think of?
RIFF: Build on this idea with another related suggestion
DIVERGE: Reframe the idea in terms of opposites
QUESTION: Ask a question to help reframe the theme

At the end, each person should have their own paper back again, and can refine their original idea that was on the top half.

CONVERGE

STEP 5: Cluster the ideas by taping them up on the wall and moving theme ideas close to each other if you sense connection points between them. Use this as a way to structure a discussion around what the final theme will be (photo here).

*Photo set by the Center for Creative Leadership

Submitted by the TEDxRedding team