Topic 3-2Topic 3-2

Brainstorming for Brainstorming for Ideas GenerationIdeas Generation

Example of Ideas Example of Ideas GenerationGeneration

Example of the Best IdeaExample of the Best Idea

RECOGNIZE THAT THESE EXIST, AND THAT MAYBE ONE OR MORE ARE LIMITING YOUR THINKING.

Mental BlocksMental Blocks

•Defining the problem too narrowly.•Attacking the symptoms and not the real

problem. •Assuming there is only one right answer.•Getting “hooked” on the first solution

that comes to mind.•Getting “hooked” on a solution that

almost works (but really doesn’t).•Being distracted by irrelevant

information, called “mental dazzle.”•Getting frustrated by lack of success.•Being too anxious to finish. •Defining the problem ambiguously.

Common Causes of Mental Blocks

A.A. Perceptual Perceptual BlocksBlocks

Prevent the problem solver from clearly seeing either:

The problem, or The information needed to solve the problem.

Perceptual blocksPerceptual blocks

Stereotyping - preconceived notions, labelling, Stereotyping - preconceived notions, labelling, norms, accepted behaviournorms, accepted behaviour Wearing a watch on your wrist…having a clock on your Wearing a watch on your wrist…having a clock on your

big toebig toe Using dishes and utensils…put the food on the table and Using dishes and utensils…put the food on the table and

use your tongueuse your tongue Isolating the problem - inadequate clues, Isolating the problem - inadequate clues,

misleading information, chaosmisleading information, chaos Doctors need to do this all the timeDoctors need to do this all the time

Limiting the problem - only considering obvious Limiting the problem - only considering obvious information, a cognitive boundaryinformation, a cognitive boundary Doctor doesn’t ask where you were last week or what Doctor doesn’t ask where you were last week or what

you ate…you ate…

Perceptual blocksPerceptual blocks

Inability to consider various viewpoints - Inability to consider various viewpoints - different interests, different parties, different interests, different parties, perspectivesperspectives

Designers must think of many views - users, Designers must think of many views - users, manufacturers, sales…manufacturers, sales…

Saturation - your brain is fullSaturation - your brain is full You know it but can’t recallYou know it but can’t recall

Failure to use all senses - they’re all Failure to use all senses - they’re all connected, context, environment, connected, context, environment, ambience, the REAL situationambience, the REAL situation

Going to the environment in question will Going to the environment in question will help - smells, sounds…help - smells, sounds…

B. Emotional BlocksB. Emotional Blocks

Interfere with the problem solver’s Interfere with the problem solver’s ability to conceptualize the problem ability to conceptualize the problem fluently and flexibly, and to fluently and flexibly, and to communicate ideascommunicate ideas..

About feeling safe and secure - nobody About feeling safe and secure - nobody likes to feel stupidlikes to feel stupid

Emotional blocksEmotional blocks

Fear of failure and taking a risk - rewarded Fear of failure and taking a risk - rewarded when we do things right and punished for when we do things right and punished for wrong! Therefore we tend to safety and lower wrong! Therefore we tend to safety and lower risk ideas.risk ideas.

Inability to tolerate ambiguity - an overriding Inability to tolerate ambiguity - an overriding desire for order and no appetite for chaosdesire for order and no appetite for chaos

Judging rather than generating - analysis, Judging rather than generating - analysis, synthesis, criticism too earlysynthesis, criticism too early

Emotional blocksEmotional blocks

Inability to relax and incubate - sleep on Inability to relax and incubate - sleep on it, unconscious will help, idea maturationit, unconscious will help, idea maturation

Idea is too wacky and is discountedIdea is too wacky and is discounted

Lack of challenge - must be motivatedLack of challenge - must be motivated After a while the money doesn’t matterAfter a while the money doesn’t matter

Inability to distinguish reality from Inability to distinguish reality from fantasy - manipulation of real and fantasy - manipulation of real and imagined images imagined images

Imagining feelings, perceptionsImagining feelings, perceptions

C. Cultural BlocksC. Cultural Blocks

Failure to consider an act that causes Failure to consider an act that causes displeasure or disgust to certain displeasure or disgust to certain members of society.members of society.

Cultural blocks (OUR Cultural blocks (OUR culture!)culture!)

Taboos - cause displeasure or offendTaboos - cause displeasure or offend Fantasy and reflection - they’re a waste Fantasy and reflection - they’re a waste

of timeof time Shouldn’t you be typing?Shouldn’t you be typing?

Playfulness is for children - adults should Playfulness is for children - adults should behave like adults behave like adults A 40 year old with an imaginary friend…A 40 year old with an imaginary friend…

Humour - problem solving is hard work Humour - problem solving is hard work and seriousand serious Creativity is funCreativity is fun

Cultural blocks (OUR Cultural blocks (OUR culture!)culture!)

Reason - more accepted than feelings and Reason - more accepted than feelings and intuitionintuition

imagination, colour, fantasy, poetry, music vs factsimagination, colour, fantasy, poetry, music vs facts Left hand and right hand thinking - law, order, Left hand and right hand thinking - law, order,

reason, logic, and mathematics vs beauty, reason, logic, and mathematics vs beauty, sensitivity, playfulness, feelings, openness, sensitivity, playfulness, feelings, openness, subjectivity, and imagery.subjectivity, and imagery.

Primary and secondary creativity Primary and secondary creativity -- primary is left primary is left handed (right brained)handed (right brained)

Development of entirely new things is primary - space craft, Development of entirely new things is primary - space craft, light bulblight bulb

Tradition and change - tradition is valued over Tradition and change - tradition is valued over changechange

Innovation is highly valued! Change for change sake is Innovation is highly valued! Change for change sake is dangerous.dangerous.

• Distractions (phones, interruptions)

Unsupportive atmosphere

D. Environmental D. Environmental BlocksBlocks

Environmental blocks Environmental blocks

Imposed by our immediate social and Imposed by our immediate social and physical environmentsphysical environments Supportive environments - physical space Supportive environments - physical space

and materials to encourage creative and materials to encourage creative thinkingthinking Paper, pens, tape, music, space…Paper, pens, tape, music, space…

Emotional environment - honesty, trust and Emotional environment - honesty, trust and support so criticism is accepted and support so criticism is accepted and incorporatedincorporated Competition and lack of trust destroy idea qualityCompetition and lack of trust destroy idea quality

Autocratic bossesAutocratic bosses

E. Intellectual E. Intellectual BlocksBlocks

Inadequate use of problem-solving strategiesLack of trainingNot knowing where to get the information

Intellectual blocks Intellectual blocks

Shortage of mental tacticsShortage of mental tactics Incorrect language - solving a problem Incorrect language - solving a problem

visually when mathematically would be visually when mathematically would be betterbetter How many jelly beans to go around the How many jelly beans to go around the

earthearth Inadequate use of problem solving Inadequate use of problem solving

strategies - making a conscious choicestrategies - making a conscious choice Imagining, visualising, transforming, Imagining, visualising, transforming,

randomising…randomising…

F. Expressive BlocksF. Expressive Blocks

Inability to CommunicateInability to Communicate verbalverbal writtenwritten

ReportReport SketchesSketches DrawingsDrawings

Inability to “sell” your ideasInability to “sell” your ideas

BlockbustingBlockbusting

There are many blockbusting There are many blockbusting techniquestechniques

The aim is to break all the blocksThe aim is to break all the blocks

What is brainstorming?•Brainstorming is an unrestricted, unstructured free flow of ideas intended to solve a problem.

•Lists of all possible ideas are generated.

•List should include wild or unusual solutions without regard to their feasibility.

•No negative judgments are allowed during this stage.

BrainstormingBrainstorming

• That won’t work.• That’s too radical.• It’s not our job.

• We don’t have enough time.• That’s too much hassle.

• It’s against our policy.• We haven’t done it that way before.• That’s too expensive.• That’s not practical.• We can’t solve this problem.

Comments That Reduce Comments That Reduce Brainstorming to Brainstorming to

BraindrizzlingBraindrizzling

Free Association(Unstructured Idea Generation)

TheBrainstorming Process

Osborn's Checklist

Futuring

Related Ideas

Random Stimulation

Other People’s views

Unrelated Ideas

After the initial free association brainstorming session, the process often hits a “roadblock”.

Lateral Thinking Vertical Thinking

•Random stimulation makes use of a random piece of information such as a word culled from the dictionary.

•The word is used as a trigger or switch to change the patterns of thought when a mental roadblock occurs.

Brainstorming: Random Brainstorming: Random StimulationStimulation

Osborn’s Checklist for Adding New Ideas

Adapt? .......... How can this (product, idea, plan, etc.) be used as is? What are other uses it could be adapted to?

Modify? ........ Change the meaning, material, color, shape, odor, etc.?

Magnify? ...... Add new ingredient? Make longer, stronger, thicker, higher, etc.?

Minify? ........ Split up? Take something out? Make lighter, lower, shorter, etc.?

Substitute? ... Who else, where else, or what else? Other ingredient, material, or approach?

Rearrange? .... Interchange parts? Other patterns, layouts? Transpose cause and effect? Change positives to negatives? Reverse roles? Turn it backwards or upside down? Sort?

Combine? ...... Combine parts, units, ideas? Blend? Compromise? Combine from different categories?

Brainstorming : Osborn’s Brainstorming : Osborn’s ChecklistChecklist

Example:Example: Automotive engineersAutomotive engineers must must

be be

aware of many viewpoints to design a aware of many viewpoints to design a

successful vehicle. They must consider:successful vehicle. They must consider: consumersconsumers marketing personnelmarketing personnel managementmanagement safety departmentsafety department financial peoplefinancial people service personnelservice personnel

The inability to see the problem from various view points can be quite limiting.

Brainstorming : Other People’s ViewBrainstorming : Other People’s View

Try to imagine yourself in the future with the ideal solution . . . .

(forget about technical feasibility)

Remember:

• In the future, anything is possible.

• Dare to change the rules.

• Best solutions are sometimes contrary to conventional wisdom.

Brainstorming: Brainstorming: FuturingFuturing

“..sleep on it…“

Do not take the first idea and “run with it”.Allow for a period of mental incubation.

What to do when stuck on a problem:

“…try new techniques after a period of digestion…”

“…go home and think..”

“…let it sit overnight…”

“…put the problem down and do something else for a while…“

BrainstormingBrainstormingINCUBATING IDEASINCUBATING IDEAS

Suggest safe playground

equipment that could be

made from old cars.

Class Exercise 1 Class Exercise 1

Adapt? .......... How can this (product, idea, plan, etc.) be used as is? What are other uses it could be adapted to?

Modify? ........ Change the meaning, material, color, shape, odor, etc.?

Magnify? ...... Add new ingredient? Make longer, stronger, thicker, higher, etc.?

Minify? ........ Split up? Take something out? Make lighter, lower, shorter, etc.? Substitute? ... Who else, where else, or what else? Other ingredient, material, or approach?

Rearrange? .... Interchange parts? Other patterns, layouts? Transpose cause and effect? Change positives to negatives? Reverse roles? Turn it backwards or upside down? Sort?

Combine? ...... Combine parts, units, ideas? Blend? Compromise? Combine from different categories?

Osborn’s Checklistfor Adding New Ideas

Combine: use the side panels and roofs to make a huge canopy or fort.

Rearrange: Turn the car upside-down and use ]it as a teeter-totter.

Substitute: use the cars’ seats in swings

Class Exercise 1 : Class Exercise 1 : Osborn’s Checklist

Modify: remove the engine and side panels and make go-carts.

Adapt: take the hood off and use it as a toboggan in winter.

Class Exercise 1 : Class Exercise 1 : Osborn’s Checklist

Class Exercise 1 : Class Exercise 1 : Osborn’s Checklist

Magnify: over inflate the inner tubes from the tires and use them to create a “romper room” / jumping pit.

Minify: crush the cars into cubes and allow the kids to climb on the blocks.

Class Exercise 1 : Class Exercise 1 : Random Stimulation

all, albatross, airplane, air, animals, bag, basketball, bean, bee, bear, bump, bed, car, cannon, cap, control, cape, custard pie, dawn, deer, defense, dig, dive, dump, dumpster, ear, eavesdrop, evolution, eve, fawn, fix, find, fungus, food, ghost, graph, gulp, gum, hot, halo, hope, hammer, humbug, head, high, ice, icon, ill, jealous, jump, jig, jive, jinx, key, knife, kitchen, lump, lie, loan, live, Latvia, man, mop, market, make, maim, mane, notice, needle, new, next, nice, open, Oscar, opera, office, pen, powder, pump, Plato, pigeons, pocket, quick, quack, quiet, rage, rash, run, rigid, radar, Scrooge, stop, stove, save, saloon, sandwich, ski, simple, safe, sauce, sand, sphere, tea, time, ticket, treadmill, up, uneven, upside-down, vice, victor, vindicate, volume, violin, voice, wreak, witch, wide, wedge, x-ray, yearn, year, yazzle, zone, zoo, zip, zap

Class Exercise 1 : Class Exercise 1 : Random Stimulation

PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT FROM OLD CARS

Word: DOCUMENT

DOCUMENT

ARTPAPER COLORS CARPAINT

ALLOW KIDS TO PAINT

GRAFFITI ON CARS

Class Exercise 1 : Class Exercise 1 : Random Stimulation

Think about walking around on Think about walking around on

your knees; how would this your knees; how would this

change your perspective--that is, change your perspective--that is,

imagine the playground from a imagine the playground from a

child’s height.child’s height.

What was your favorite What was your favorite

playground toy? How could this playground toy? How could this

be mimicked with used auto be mimicked with used auto

parts?parts?

Class Exercise 1 : Other People’s Class Exercise 1 : Other People’s ViewView

Class Exercise 1 : Other People’s Class Exercise 1 : Other People’s ViewView

Example: From a child’s viewpoint, the intact car would be an exciting change to pretend to be a “grown-up.” Just take off the doors and remove other equipment (electrical, etc.) and let the kids pretend to drive. Just leave the car as it is!

OrganisinOrganising Ideasg Ideas

Painting

•Let Kids paint graffiti on cars

•Paint targets and use to throw balls at

•Paint as covered wagon--play cowboys

Whole Car

•Teeter totter (upside down)

•Go-Cart

•Crush and make blocks

•Drive as is

•Open doors and use as goals for field hockeyParts

•seats-swings

•Roof / doors--fort

•Tires--jump on

•Hood--toboggan

•Springs for wobble ride

Fishbone Diagram (Playground Fishbone Diagram (Playground Example)Example)

Upside Down Teeter Totter

OLD CARS AS PLAYGROUND

EQUIPMENT

PAINTING THE CARS WHOLE CAR

PARTS

Police Car

(Cops/Robbers

Space Ship (Star Trek)

Seats as Swings

Crush into Blocks

Tires–Jump On

Springs–Wobble Ride

Go–Carts

Open Doors for Hockey Goals

Covered Wagon (Cowboys)

Let Kids Paint

Graffiti

Roof/Doors–Fort

Hood–Toboggan

Fishbone Diagram (Playground Fishbone Diagram (Playground Example)Example)

There are many other There are many other techniques, find them out techniques, find them out

yourselvesyourselves

.. Not quite the end... Not quite the end.