Lotus Diagram
A lotus diagram expands one central idea into eight themes, then each theme into eight more ideas — 64 in total — so students push past their first few thoughts.
Also called lotus blossom technique.
Intermediate◷ 25–45 minFree · no login
One idea in the middle. Sixty-four around it.
How to use it + an example
How to use it
- 1Write the design challenge in the centre square.
- 2Fill the eight surrounding squares with themes or approaches.
- 3Move each theme to the centre of its own grid and generate eight ideas for it.
Example
For "a better way to store headphones", the themes include wall, desk, bag and wearable, and the wearable grid produces a clip that sits on a hoodie drawstring.
When to use it: When generating a wide range of ideas (MYP Design Criterion B).
Ideate: Lots of ideas first. Pick one after.
Your turn ↓
🌸 Lotus Diagram
Grow one theme into many ideas. Name a central theme, give it petals (sub-themes), then fill each petal with ideas.
Name your petals
0 of 8 namedEach petal is a different angle on your theme. Three is a good start — you can add up to eight, now or later.
Write a central theme to continue.
Look back. Which petal gave you the idea you like best?
Try next
- SCAMPER7 thinking strategies to transform existing ideas into new ones.Try it free →
- Reverse BrainstormBrainstorm bad ideas first, then flip them into real solutions.Try it free →
- Morphological ChartCombine features across categories to generate novel combinations.Try it free →
For teachers: Ideate stage · 25-45m. Free, no login. One of the 45 design thinking tools on StudioLoom, which also puts them inside lessons so students’ thinking is saved with their project.