I'm a longtime fan of brainstorming techniques and methods for making the most out of meetings and that kind of stuff. Last week I was reading this post at the excellent Creating Passionate Users blog, and was reminded of IDEOs wonderful brainstorming cards.
This (and the links to their forerunners, Brian Eno's Oblique Strategies cards) made me wonder if something similar could be done for Greenpeace campaigns. (There was a time when tough decisions were helped out by the random wisdom of the I-Ching) A few hours of looking at Greenpeace campaigns and scribbling on bits of cardboard later and I have a prototype...
The plan was simple. Produce 52 statements that will make people think interesting thoughts about their campaigns. Write them on bits of card. Use the cards in brainstorms. Easy right?
If you want to try this at home, find 52 bits of card and write the following things on them - or make up your own. In fact, make up your own and leave them in the comments.
Things to think about
Provide a solution
Do it to a person
Make it really BIG
Recycle an idea
Give the victims a voice
Show what victory looks like
Repeat, Repeat, Repeat, Repeat, Repeat, Repeat
Make it look really good
Highlight the good guys
Offer to help
Dress well
How would another organisation do it?
Go there
Surprise the observers
Teach people something
Make your commitment visible
Borrow someone else's symbol
Give everyone a chance to do something
Show the victims
Turn your message upside down
Start at the beginning
Do it yourself
Make it personal
Give them a choice
Attempt the impossible
Make a comparison
Respond today to tomorrow's emergency
Keep it simple
Bring your support with you
Show the ugly bits
Behave as if you're in charge
Make the protest permanent
Show the whole process
Take some guests along
Make it fun
Tell a story
Talk about morality
Invite some friends
Stop something, even for a second
Shock with the message
Show what you're saving
Assign blame
Move the problem somewhere else
Take a really big gamble
Ask nicely
Choose a figurehead
Highlight unexpected supporters
Make the hidden obvious
Take unreasonable precautions
Start at the end
Interrupt something important
Explain it without words
Then take them along to your next campaign brainstorm or whatever and see what they inspire. Or pick three at random and come up with a campaign that does all of them. For instance spend five minutes on the following...
"Think of a way to stop Denmark attending the 'normalisation' meeting Japan is holding about the IWC
Take unreasonable precautions
Repeat, Repeat, Repeat, Repeat, Repeat, Repeat
Assign blame"
Leave suggestions for that in the comments too....