Lotus Blossom

The Lotus Blossom is a structured creativity technique attributed to Yasuo Matsumura. It starts with a 3 x 3 grid: the theme or problem is placed in the centre, and then 8 ideas or sub-themes are generated around it. Each of these 8 ideas then becomes the centre of a new 3 x 3 grid, surrounded in turn by 8 ideas. The game forces exploration in breadth and then depth, avoiding stopping at the first available ideas.

Walkthrough

1. 1

   Frame the creative challenge

   5 to 8 min

   The facilitator opens by clearly stating the theme or problem to explore, then validates it with the group. They say: "We will explore broadly, then delve deeper without judging ideas too quickly. Our goal is to organise up to 64 pathways into 8 families." Participants may ask for clarifications on the scope, constraints, or beneficiaries. This step helps avoid a too vague centre, which would then produce scattered ideas.

   Tip — Have the theme reformulated into a short sentence starting with an action verb, such as "Improve...", "Reduce..." or "Invent..."; this facilitates idea generation.

2. 2

   Set up the first 3 x 3 grid

   5 min

   The facilitator draws a 3 x 3 grid on a visible support for all, either physical or digital. They write the theme or problem in the central box, then show the 8 surrounding boxes. They clarify: "These 8 boxes will hold our first ideas or sub-themes, not yet final solutions." Participants observe the structure to understand that each box around the centre must be filled.

   Tip — Discreetly number the 8 peripheral boxes or use a clockwise reading: this prevents omissions and gives a rhythm to the filling.

3. 3

   Generate the 8 initial ideas or sub-themes

   10 to 12 min

   The facilitator invites the group to fill the 8 boxes around the central theme with 8 distinct ideas or sub-themes. They say: "Propose short pathways, one idea per box, without debate or selection for now." Participants state, write, or submit their proposals according to the chosen format. If an idea is vague, the facilitator helps to shorten it without distorting it. The aim is to explore broadly and obtain 8 working families.

   Tip — When the group gets stuck at 5 or 6 ideas, prompt with simple angles: users, obstacles, resources, emotions, processes, places, moments, irritants.

4. 4

   Transform the 8 ideas into centres of new grids

   5 to 8 min

   The facilitator then prepares 8 new 3 x 3 grids, one for each peripheral idea from the first grid. They copy each idea into the central box of a new grid. They explain: "Each initial idea now becomes a mini-theme to explore further. We will surround each of these centres with 8 new ideas." Participants check that the 8 families are indeed present and separate.

   Tip — In person, place the 8 grids around the first like petals; visually, this recalls the flower and helps the group understand the architecture.

5. 5

   Deepen each family to 8 ideas

   15 to 20 min

   The facilitator has participants work on the 8 secondary grids. For each grid, the instruction is the same: "From the idea in the centre, find up to 8 ideas around it, one per box, even if some still seem imperfect." The group can move forward together or split the families according to the number of participants. This phase pushes exploration in depth and can produce up to 64 ideas organised into 8 families.

   Tip — Impose a short time per grid or family: the slight pressure prevents premature discussions and encourages quantity.

6. 6

   Read and complete the flower

   5 to 7 min

   The facilitator invites the group to review all the produced grids, family by family. They say: "We are not selecting yet: we first check for clarity, obvious duplicates, and empty boxes." Participants complete if a pathway is missing, reformulate incomprehensible ideas, and identify natural connections. The expected result is a readable map that can contain up to 64 structured ideas.

   Tip — Keep duplicates if they appear in two different families: their repetition may reveal an important transversal idea.

7. 7

   Converge and prepare for the next steps

   5 to 10 min

   The facilitator concludes the production by asking the group to identify ideas to explore further after the workshop. They say: "The Lotus Blossom serves to open the field; we will now identify what deserves a next decision, a test, or prototyping." Participants choose a few pathways based on the context criteria, without reopening the entire debate. This step transforms the creative material into an exploitable basis for the future.

   Tip — Clearly separate divergence from convergence: explicitly announce the change of mode, otherwise participants judge too early during generation.

Variants

• Individual facilitation: one person first fills in the central grid, then the 8 secondary grids. They then review the entire set to choose the pathways to test or enrich.
• Sub-group facilitation: distribute the 8 families among several pairs or small groups. Each team deepens one or more grids, then presents their ideas to the collective.
• Remote variant: use a collaborative whiteboard with a central grid and 8 secondary grids prepared in advance. Participants add their ideas simultaneously, then the facilitator conducts a guided reading family by family.
• Constraint variant: impose a common angle for all secondary grids, such as user, feasibility, or impact. This constraint reduces dispersion when the topic is very broad.