Brainstorming using word bubbles
There are many ways to brainstorm an idea but my preferred method is using word bubbles and mapping out an idea for a design. Write down words that are relevant to your content, from there jot down the first word that pops into your head. To expand off of those words grab a thesaurus and choose synonyms of those words and continue the process. This exercise will help to create distinctly different thumbnails of a design instead of creating variations of one idea.