Once you have defined:
Who your stakeholder or user is
What the problem or opportunity is
Then you are on to the HOW..how will you solve the problem. Generating a range of different ideas helps you to pick the BEST idea...not just the first idea.
Feeling stuck when your asked to come up with new ideas - try the random generator dice
Look at exisiting products and designs. Be inspired and look for opportunities
Use the randomiser and then give yourself 3min to draw that thing
How many uses for these things can you list in only 8min? Can you get to 100?
What could you make out of this box of stuff? How many ideas can you come up with?
Use these drawing sheet and finish the other half to the images