A timeboxed divergent ideation process that outputs ranked options plus day-one experiments.

How long does an idea-lab session take?

Typically 15 minutes by default, but you can adjust the timebox as needed.

What if the Top 3 experiments don’t yield results?

Treat failures as learnings; use the structured ranking and dependencies to pivot quickly and re-prioritize.

idea-lab

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npx machina-cli add skill NickCrew/claude-cortex/idea_lab --openclaw

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SKILL.md

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`/collaboration:idea-lab`

Use this when you need many angles fast and want to leave with 1-day experiments queued.

Inputs

Topic or problem statement
Constraints (time, platform, compliance, budget)
Any existing assets to reuse

Steps

State the timebox (default 15m).\n2. Capture goal, success signals, constraints, assets.\n3. Generate 5–7 distinct concepts with Wow-Factor, Feasibility (S/M/L), Dependency to check.\n4. Select Top 3 to test today; assign a 1-day experiment to each.\n5. Seed Task view or hand off to /ctx:plan.

Output Template

### Problem / Goal
### Success Signals
### Constraints
### Existing Assets
### Options (table)
| Concept | Wow-Factor | Feasibility | Dependency to Check |
|---------|------------|-------------|---------------------|
### Top 3 Experiments
### Next Steps

Resources

See modes/Idea_Lab.md for tone cues.\n- Pair with /ctx:plan after choosing the top experiment.\n- Use /collaboration:assumption-buster first if the problem is sticky.

Source

git clone https://github.com/NickCrew/claude-cortex/blob/main/skills/collaboration/idea_lab/SKILL.mdView on GitHub

Overview

Idea-lab is a timeboxed divergent ideation method that rapidly generates 5–7 concepts, ranks them by wow-factor and feasibility, and lines up 1-day experiments for the Top 3. It emphasizes fast synthesis, structured evaluation, and actionable next steps.

How This Skill Works

Set a timebox (default 15 minutes). Capture goal, constraints, and assets. Generate 5–7 distinct concepts with wow-factor, feasibility, and dependencies. Select the Top 3 to test today and assign a 1-day experiment to each, then seed a Task view or hand off to /ctx:plan.

When to Use It

When you need many angles fast on a problem statement
When time, platform, or budget constraints must be factored into ideas
When you have existing assets to reuse and want to maximize them
When you want a concrete pipeline to test ideas within a day
When you need a structured handoff to planning or execution via /ctx:plan

Quick Start

Step 1: State the timebox (default 15m) and capture goal and constraints
Step 2: Generate 5–7 concepts with wow-factor, feasibility, and dependencies
Step 3: Pick Top 3 for 1-day experiments and hand off to /ctx:plan

Best Practices

Clearly define the timebox and success signals before starting
Capture constraints and existing assets upfront to guide concepting
Aim for 5–7 distinct concepts that balance wow-factor and feasibility
Explicitly note dependencies to check for each concept
Always select Top 3 ideas and assign clear 1-day experiments

Example Use Cases

Brainstorm marketing variants for a new app and queue 1-day experiments for the Top 3 ideas
Generate onboarding feature ideas and prepare quick tests to validate feasibility
Develop content strategy angles for a product launch with immediate execution plans
Propose UX/UI redesign concepts for a dashboard and outline day-one experiments
Identify partnership or channel experiments with 1-day execution plans

Frequently Asked Questions

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