A facilitated online ideation (e.g. brainstorming) method and system is provided that is efficient and easy to use, and without requiring a facilitator, or participants with specialised training or experience. The method includes receiving, on a data interface, details of a challenge; receiving, on the data interface, a plurality of focus areas relating to the challenge; and automatically allocating participants to each of the plurality of focus areas. Ideas relating to an allocated focus area of each of the participants are received, on the data interface, and from each of the participants, and participants are automatically allocated to ideas for review of the ideas.