6-3-5 Brainwriting Template
Six people, three ideas each, five minutes per round. 6-3-5 brainwriting produces up to 108 ideas in about half an hour, and everyone contributes equally.
Free to start · Swiss-made · GDPR compliant
Six rounds of 6-3-5 brainwriting
The Collaboard template has six areas, one per participant, each with six color-coded rows of three sticky notes: green for round 1, orange for round 2, blue for round 3, yellow for round 4, purple for round 5 and grey for round 6. Instead of passing paper around, participants move to the next area after each round.
Set the question
Write a clear question everyone can see, and give each participant one area by replacing Name 1 to Name 6.
Round one
Everyone writes three ideas on the green notes in their own area. Set a timer for five minutes.
Move on
When the time is up, everyone moves to the next area, for example clockwise.
Build on the ideas
Read the ideas already in the area and write three new ones in the next row, building on or varying what's there.
Repeat
Continue until all six rows are full. After six rounds, the group has up to 108 ideas.
Evaluate together
Read all areas, cluster similar ideas and vote on the most promising ones.
What is 6-3-5 brainwriting?
6-3-5 brainwriting is a structured form of brainstorming in writing. Six participants each write three ideas in five minutes, then pass their sheet on. In the next round, everyone builds on the ideas already on the sheet in front of them. After six rounds, the group has up to 108 ideas in about 30 minutes.
How the template is structured
- Six sheets One area per participant, labeled Name 1 to Name 6.
- Six rounds Each sheet has six rows, one per round, each in its own color.
- Three ideas per round Each row holds three sticky notes, one per idea.
If your group prefers to talk ideas through out loud, a classic brainstorming is the more open format.
Situations that suit 6-3-5 brainwriting
- Groups with mixed personalities Everyone gets the same space, no matter who speaks loudest.
- Developing ideas further Each round builds on earlier ideas instead of starting from scratch.
- Product and service ideas Generate many variations on one question in a short time.
- Remote workshops Moving between areas on the board replaces passing paper.
Staying on pace across all six rounds
- Stick to the time Five minutes per round keeps the pace. Later rounds are harder, so one extra minute is fine.
- Make the order clear Agree on which area everyone moves to next before the first round starts.
- Write in short sentences Ideas need to be clear to the next person, who can't ask.
- Fewer people work too With four or five participants, use only that many areas and rounds.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the 6-3-5 brainwriting template free?
Yes, the 6-3-5 brainwriting template is free to use with a Collaboard account. The free plan includes up to 3 boards and five people per session.
What does 6-3-5 stand for in 6-3-5 brainwriting?
In 6-3-5 brainwriting, the numbers stand for six participants, three ideas per round and five minutes per round.
Who developed 6-3-5 brainwriting?
6-3-5 brainwriting was introduced by Bernd Rohrbach in 1968.
Does 6-3-5 brainwriting work with more or fewer than six people?
Yes, 6-3-5 brainwriting can be adapted to the size of your group by changing the number of rows and rounds. The principle stays the same.
What is the difference between brainwriting and brainstorming?
In brainstorming, ideas are shared out loud. In 6-3-5 brainwriting, everyone writes in silence first, which reduces groupthink and gives everyone equal space.
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