PART I Define, Conceive, Prove, Document
Chapter 5 Conceiving Design Solutions
5.1 Creative Thinking
5.1.3 Techniques for Creative Thinking and
Some recent research in cognitive-based creative thinking (Ritter and Mostert, 2017) has shown that creative thinking skills can be improved using training based on established methods We will introduce some of those techniques here
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5.1.3.1 Technique 1: Silent Brainstorming
Brainstorming is typically carried out as a group activity, but it can also be beneficial if carried out alone and individually Brainstorming alone can be helpful for c reative thinking because one can generate ideas without the boundaries, procedures, and restrictions present during group brainstorming Brainstorming alone also eliminates the influence of views and criticisms expressed by team members during group sessions An individual brainstorming session does not have to be very long Five to ten minutes of silent brainstorming and writing down one’s ideas is what is needed Once unique ideas have been captured, they can be included in the group brainstorming session 5.1.3.2 Technique 2: Evolutionary Thinking – The TRIZ Method
We will discuss the theory of inventive problem-solving created by Genrich Altshuller later in this chapter TRIZ was developed to derive new design solutions from an analysis of previous design solutions TRIZ was first focused on obtaining new patent ideas by studying prior patents Analyzing some 50,000 patents, Altshuller and his coworkers suggested the “40 Inventive Principles” Using the TRIZ method, one can expand on the number of design ideas created with Technique 1
5.1.3.3 Technique 3: Random Input
Lateral thinking is a way to escape from getting stuck in the same line of thinking for design solutions that can happen during brainstorming Because sometimes our brains get fixated on solving the problem using the same methods repeatedly, some external input is needed to provoke our thinking into a different approach The ran- dom input interrupts our line of thinking and points us into thinking differently, and therefore, the idea generation can become productive again The random input does not have to be thoughtful but can be purely a random selection For example, you can pick up a book and go to a random page, paragraph and pick a word Then, try and relate the word to the problem at hand A team member can also randomly think of a word, maybe from a song they like or a phrase they heard on the news or a friend You are not limited to words in random input; pick an object or select a picture randomly and try to relate that to the design problem at hand In relating the random input to your problem, you will be able to create new solution ideas
5.1.3.4 Technique 4: sCampeR
SCAMPER stands for substitute, combine, adapt, modify, put to other uses, elimi- nate, and rearrange SCAMPER was introduced by Alex Osborne (1953), who developed a series of questions that spark ideas to diverge from a stuck path in brain- storming Bob Eberle (2008) categorized those questions and created the mnemonic SCAMPER The SCAMPER questions are designed to help generate more ideas dur- ing brainstorming by asking the questions in any order Questions can be repeated, but the team members should take time to try and answer each question Write down your answers for each team member for each question When done, compile all answers to each question Alternatively, you can use a whiteboard or large paper Tablet to record each team member’s response to each question Another effective
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way to conduct the SCAMPER or brainstorming session is by using a shared file such as MScloud or Google docs
• Substitute
• What different processes can be used?
• What different materials can be incorporated or substituted? What other sources of power could be applied?
• What other applications can be substituted?
• What users or groups can be included or excluded instead? What other methods can be used?
• Combine
• What can be combined?
• What purposes can be combined?
• What groups of parts can be combined into one?
• How can you combine parts for manufacturing or assembly? How can you integrate modules or sections?
• How can you combine applications? How can you combine purposes?
• Adapt
• What else is similar to this?
• What other thoughts does this suggest? Does the past offer a similar situation? What can you adapt to other solutions?
• Modify
• How can you add a new twist? How can you change the meaning?
• How can you change the color or shape?
• How can you change the geometry (expand or shrink)? How can you change the form?
• How can you change the function? How can the motion be changed?
How can something be added?
• How can something be subtracted?
• How can you increase or decrease the weight? How can you increase or decrease the load? How can you increase or decrease the force? How can you increase or decrease the pressure?
• How can you increase or decrease the temperature? How can you increase or decrease the strength?
• Put to other uses
• What other uses could it have?
• How can it be put to other uses if changed?
• Eliminate
• What can you eliminate?
• What functions can you get rid of? What part can you remove?
• What design specifications can you delete?
• Rearrange
• What parts can you rearrange?
• What other arrangements of the components will work?
• What components can be rearranged or reversed? How can the process sequence be rearranged?
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• How can the system layout be different? How can the cause and effect be different? How can the orientation be different?
• How can the methodology be reorganized?
There are many books and journal articles written on creative thinking The bibliography lists many You can find additional references by doing a literature search online at scholargooglecom, Academiaedu, and researchgatenet, or Amazoncom The methods we have described here have proven to be sufficient for capstone design needs, but there is always room for more creative thinking in any design project