Applied Ideation And Design Thinking

Applied Ideation and Design Thinkingfor Assistive TechnologiesTodayThinking about problemsBrainstorming and ideationPractice brainstormsScenarios and storytellingPresentation and wrapGayle Curtis E110 – 11 January 2011

Thinking about Try out kupTest with edefineReprioritizeRedirectProblemSolutionsReplan2

Ideation and inspirationGenius is one percent inspirationand ninety-nine percent perspiration.Thomas Edison, inventorInspiration is for amateurs. The rest of usjust show up and get to work.Chuck Close, artist3

BrainstormingDefined by Alex Osborn in 1939“Storming a problem in a commando fashion”Your Creative Power, 1949Applied Imagination, 1953Took on a life of its ownBBDO - Alex OsbornMIT Creative Engineering Lab - John ArnoldStanford Design Division - Bob McKimIDEOd.school at Stanford and PotsdamSources: ; Verner Reed/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images; Gayle Curtis4

The Osborn RulesforBrainstorming5

Osborn Rule #1DEFERJUDGEMENTSay YesSource: Doré 6

Fifty phrases that kill creativity Our place is different Now's not the right time. It can't be done. We tried that before. It isn't in the budget. It's too much trouble to change. It costs too much. Can't teach an old dog new tricks. It won't pay for itself. That's not my job. Good thought, but impractical. It's impossible. They're too busy to do that. Let's give it more thought. I know a person who tried it and We don't have the time. We'll be the laughingstock of the Not enough help.industry.got fired. We've always done it this way. It's too radical a change. Not that again. We'd lose money in the long run. The staff will never buy it. Where'd you dig that one up? Don't rock the boat. It's against company policy. We did alright without it before. That's what we can expect from The union will scream. It's never been tried. That will run up our overhead. Let's put that one on the back We don't have the authority.burner for now. Let's get back to reality Let's form a committee. That's not our problem. It won't work in our place. I don't like the idea. The executive committee will never I'm not saying you're wrong but. You're two years ahead of yourtime.go for it.the staff. Has anyone else ever tried it? Let's look into it further. We'll have to answer to thestockholders. Quit dreaming. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I don't see the connection. That's too much ivory tower. Let's all sleep on it. It's too much work.Source: Daniel DuFour7

Osborn Rule # 2GO FORQUANTITYFLUENCY FLEXIBILITY8

Osborn’s checklist for transforming ideasPut to other uses?Magnify?Minify?Reverse?New ways to use as is?What to add?What to subtract?Other uses if modified?More time?Smaller?Greater frequency?Condensed?How about opposites?Stronger?Miniature?Turn it backward?What else is like this?Higher?Lower?Turn it upside down?What other idea does thisLonger?Shorter?Reverse roles?Extra Value?Lighter?Change shoes?Does the past offer parallel?Plus ingredient?Omit?Turn tables?What could I copy?Duplicate?Streamline?Turn other cheek?Whom could I emulate?Multiply?Split up?Exaggerate?Understate?Adapt?suggest?Modify?New twist?Change meaning, color,motion, sound, odor,form, shape?Other shapes?Transpose positive andnegative?Rearrange?Interchange components?Combine?Substitute?Other pattern?Who else instead?Other layout?What else instead?Other sequence?Combine units?Other ingredient?Transpose cause and effect?Combine purposes?Other process?Change pace?Combine appeals?Other place?Change schedule?Combine ideas?Other approach?How about a blend, an alloy,assortment, ensemble?Other tone of voice?9

Transformation cardsSource: the MIT Creative Engineering Laboratory, ca 1956 – Adapted from Osborn’s Applied Imagination10

Osborn Rule #3GETRADICALWILDWEIRDABSURDSTUPIDEasier to tone down than pump upSource: Obey the Pure Breed11

The idea curveIllustrative representation of idea countBRILLIANTBORINGTIMEABSURD“Out of a hundred ideas, the first sixty ideas produced five that were actuallynew or different, the next twenty produced nothing but laughter, and ideaseighty to a hundred produced another ten that were amazing. Thankfully,we didn’t give up when the well ran dry around idea number sixty.”Source: Adapted from Dev Patnaik, The Ebb and Flow of Ideas12

Osborn Rule #4LEAPFROGMash upBuild on other people’s ideasLet go of your ownSource: Rolf Faste13

Ground Rules RecapFour content rulesFour process rulesDefer JudgmentStay focused on topicSay Yes!A stray thread can throw you offSave analysis and evaluation for laterTurn it around to something that relatesGo for quantityOne conversation at a timeFluency - lots of ideasLet everyone get their idea outFlexibility - lots of different ideasBring side discussions onto the tableGet radicalEncourage wild, eccentric, improbableideasEasier to tone down than pump upLeapfrogBuild on others’ ideasHeadline itExpress the essence and move onMaintain flowBe visualGet the right brain workingLet yours go into the mix14

And, for best results Four setup tipsExplicitly agree“Let’s brainstorm!”“Yeah!”Facilitate“What else ?”RecordCapture the thoughtTime boxDefine the play period15

Exercise –Brainstorm a ProjectStart with your problem1. Form small groups2. Pick one problem for this exercise3. Brainstorm 15 minutes4. Pick a solution5. Present to the class1. User2. Context3. How it works16

Creating solution scenariosFive story componentsUserIdentify and characterize a user, based on thetarget user groupContextDescribe context or situation in which theproblem existsProblemDescribe an incident or condition thatmotivates the use of the solutionSolutionShow how they access and use the solution toaddress their needOutcomeDescribe the outcome of the situation - thepayoff, the problem solved, the happy user17

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Better BrainstormsBetter ScenariosFour content rulesFive story components1. Defer Judgment1. UserSay Yes!Save analysis and evaluation for later2. Go for quantityFluency - lots of ideasFlexibility - lots of different ideas3. Get radicalEncourage wild, eccentric, improbable ideasEasier to tone down than pump up4. LeapfrogBuild on others’ ideasLet yours go into the mixFour process rules5. Stay focused on topicA stray thread can throw you offTurn it around to something that relates6. One conversation at a timeLet everyone get their idea outBring side discussions onto the table7. Headline itExpress the essence and move onMaintain flow8. Be visualGet the right brain workingIdentify and characterize a user, based on thetarget user group2. ContextDescribe context or situation in which theproblem exists3. ProblemDescribe an incident or condition thatmotivates the use of the solution4. SolutionShow how they access and use the solution toaddress their need5. OutcomeDescribe the outcome of the situation - thepayoff, the problem solved, the happy userGayle Curtis E110 Jan 2011 19

The idea curve Illustrative representation of idea count Source: Adapted from Dev Patnaik, The Ebb and Flow of Ideas BRILLIANT BORING ABSURD TIME “Out of a hundred ideas, the first sixty ideas produced five that were actually new or different,