How to Use FigJam for Brainstorming Effectively

Use FigJam by creating a new board, adding sticky notes, shapes, and connectors to capture ideas visually. Collaborate in real-time with your team by inviting them to the board and using built-in tools like voting and timers to organize brainstorming sessions.

Syntax

FigJam is a visual collaboration tool with a simple interface. The main elements you use for brainstorming are:

• Sticky Notes: Add quick ideas or comments.
• Shapes: Use shapes like circles or rectangles to group or highlight ideas.
• Connectors: Draw lines to show relationships between ideas.
• Text: Add titles or explanations.
• Collaboration Tools: Use voting, timers, and cursors to interact with your team.

All these elements can be added from the toolbar and arranged freely on the board.

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Create a new FigJam board -> Add sticky notes -> Add shapes -> Connect ideas with lines -> Invite team members -> Use voting and timers

Example

This example shows how to start a brainstorming session in FigJam:

• Create a new board named "Project Ideas".
• Add sticky notes with ideas like "New app feature", "Marketing plan", and "Customer feedback".
• Use circles to group related ideas.
• Draw arrows to show connections between ideas.
• Invite your team to collaborate and use the voting tool to pick the best ideas.

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1. Open FigJam and click 'New File'.
2. Click the sticky note icon and add notes: "New app feature", "Marketing plan", "Customer feedback".
3. Select the shape tool and draw circles around related notes.
4. Use the connector tool to draw arrows between notes.
5. Click 'Share' and invite team members.
6. Use the voting tool from the toolbar to let team members vote on ideas.

Output

A FigJam board with sticky notes grouped by circles, connected by arrows, and team votes visible on ideas.

Common Pitfalls

Some common mistakes when using FigJam for brainstorming include:

• Adding too many sticky notes without grouping, which makes the board cluttered.
• Not inviting team members early, missing out on real-time collaboration.
• Ignoring built-in tools like voting and timers, which help organize sessions.
• Using unclear connectors or no labels, making relationships confusing.

To avoid these, keep your board organized, invite collaborators early, and use all available tools to guide the session.

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Wrong way:
- Add 50 sticky notes randomly.
- No grouping or connectors.
- No team invited.

Right way:
- Add sticky notes in small groups.
- Use shapes and connectors to organize.
- Invite team and use voting/timers.

Quick Reference

Action	Description	Shortcut/Location
Add Sticky Note	Create a note to capture an idea	Toolbar sticky note icon or press 'S'
Add Shape	Group or highlight ideas visually	Toolbar shape icon or press 'O'
Draw Connector	Show relationships between ideas	Toolbar connector icon or press 'L'
Invite Collaborators	Share board for real-time teamwork	Click 'Share' button top-right
Start Voting	Collect team votes on ideas	Toolbar voting icon
Set Timer	Keep brainstorming sessions on track	Toolbar timer icon

Key Takeaways

Start by adding sticky notes to capture ideas quickly.

Use shapes and connectors to organize and relate ideas visually.

Invite your team early to collaborate in real-time.

Use voting and timer tools to manage and prioritize ideas.

Keep the board clean and grouped to avoid clutter.