# Brainstorming Ideas Into Designs

> Interactive idea refinement using Socratic method to develop fully-formed designs

- **Type:** Skill
- **Install:** `agentstack add skill-obra-superpowers-skills-brainstorming`
- **Verified:** Yes — security-reviewed for prompt injection and unsafe behavior
- **Seller:** [obra](https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/obra)
- **Installs:** 0
- **Category:** [Agent Skills](https://agentstack.voostack.com/c/agent-skills)
- **Latest version:** 0.1.0
- **License:** MIT
- **Upstream author:** [obra](https://github.com/obra)
- **Source:** https://github.com/obra/superpowers-skills/tree/main/skills/collaboration/brainstorming

## Install

```sh
agentstack add skill-obra-superpowers-skills-brainstorming
```

Requires the [AgentStack CLI](https://agentstack.voostack.com/docs/cli). Works with Claude Code, Cursor, and any MCP-compatible agent.

## About

# Brainstorming Ideas Into Designs

## Overview

Transform rough ideas into fully-formed designs through structured questioning and alternative exploration.

**Core principle:** Ask questions to understand, explore alternatives, present design incrementally for validation.

**Announce at start:** "I'm using the Brainstorming skill to refine your idea into a design."

## The Process

### Phase 1: Understanding
- Check current project state in working directory
- Ask ONE question at a time to refine the idea
- Prefer multiple choice when possible
- Gather: Purpose, constraints, success criteria

### Phase 2: Exploration
- Propose 2-3 different approaches
- For each: Core architecture, trade-offs, complexity assessment
- Ask your human partner which approach resonates

### Phase 3: Design Presentation
- Present in 200-300 word sections
- Cover: Architecture, components, data flow, error handling, testing
- Ask after each section: "Does this look right so far?"

### Phase 4: Worktree Setup (for implementation)
When design is approved and implementation will follow:
- Announce: "I'm using the Using Git Worktrees skill to set up an isolated workspace."
- Switch to skills/collaboration/using-git-worktrees
- Follow that skill's process for directory selection, safety verification, and setup
- Return here when worktree ready

### Phase 5: Planning Handoff
Ask: "Ready to create the implementation plan?"

When your human partner confirms (any affirmative response):
- Announce: "I'm using the Writing Plans skill to create the implementation plan."
- Switch to skills/collaboration/writing-plans skill
- Create detailed plan in the worktree

## When to Revisit Earlier Phases

**You can and should go backward when:**
- Partner reveals new constraint during Phase 2 or 3 → Return to Phase 1 to understand it
- Validation shows fundamental gap in requirements → Return to Phase 1
- Partner questions approach during Phase 3 → Return to Phase 2 to explore alternatives
- Something doesn't make sense → Go back and clarify

**Don't force forward linearly** when going backward would give better results.

## Related Skills

**During exploration:**
- When approaches have genuine trade-offs: skills/architecture/preserving-productive-tensions

**Before proposing changes to existing code:**
- Understand why it exists: skills/research/tracing-knowledge-lineages

## Remember
- One question per message during Phase 1
- Apply YAGNI ruthlessly
- Explore 2-3 alternatives before settling
- Present incrementally, validate as you go
- Go backward when needed - flexibility > rigid progression
- Announce skill usage at start

## Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

- **Author:** [obra](https://github.com/obra)
- **Source:** [obra/superpowers-skills](https://github.com/obra/superpowers-skills)
- **License:** MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.

## Pricing

- **Free** — Free

## Security capabilities

Automated source analysis of v0.1.0 — what this tool can access:

- **Network access:** no
- **Filesystem access:** no
- **Shell / process execution:** no
- **Environment & secrets:** no
- **Dynamic code execution:** no

*"Yes" means the capability is present in the source — more access means more to trust, not that it is unsafe.*


## Versions

- **0.1.0** — security scan: passed — Imported from the upstream source.

## Links

- Listing page: https://agentstack.voostack.com/l/skill-obra-superpowers-skills-brainstorming
- Seller: https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/obra
- Browse the marketplace: https://agentstack.voostack.com/browse

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Listed on AgentStack — the marketplace for AI agent skills and MCP servers. Every listing is security-reviewed. Creators keep 70%.