How Do We Generate Ideas?

Lecture Notes

My Reflection

During this week’s lecture, I found the subject very interesting as I wasn’t aware of many design process methods. I’ve got a strong interest in the methods and physiology of the design process to be encouraged in generating ideas. The Bauhaus method consisted of many elements overlapping across each other, which made it hard to confine information through its method. I can see how this method is probably the foundation too many others that developed as it reflects the behavior of generating ideas. I really thought it was great to introduce exercise classes as doing physical activities helps motivate the mind and body to help the mind think.

Bruce Archer’s discipline of design research showed a clearer understanding and model to discover, develop, and reflect on. The process created a movement on design to formalises within science for a creative process, employing a combination of the intuitive and cognitive approaches.

The linear approaches I’m fully aware of such as Brian Lawson and not a favourite method of mine, as the problem could be solved in one go. It’s doesn’t give you a moment to reflect on other possible opportunities and feel can lead to an abrupt outcome if not considered carefully. Having a one option approach is great if you don’t want to consider the design process and make an idea stand out for its competitors. The Double Diamond (Discover, Define, Develop, and Deliver) approach was the first I’ve heard of it from this lecture. It seems this method has clarity, structure, and a managed process that is a very simplified graphical way. I’m looking forward to discovering more about this method and putting it into practice. It allows you to question at every stage and with your data you can analyse and reflect in changes to make greater results to your idea. This addresses many problems, which can be processed from learning from mistakes for future projects. Always a questionable and tangible method.

Edward de Bono ‘Six Thinking Hats’ technique is quite a fascinating method for generating ideas and if anything gives people to open up and express ideas in this thinking process. It’s a very encouraging and inspiring method that doesn’t allow one idea to be steered by itself and divert attention to others think or progress their thoughts. Two models of thinking (Thinking Fast & Slow by Daniel Kahneman) that system 1 and system 2 is an interesting insight into how rational thoughts are made for debate and individual differences in reasoning, which I find how to process information and apply them in different circumstances.

Moving onto the RSA animation: The Divided Brain by Iain McGilchrist I really enjoy his context in design thinking. The insight to the right and left hemisphere of the brain is a fascinating exploration into the psychology of how the mind works. It really has made me think about how to make more use of my thought process and improve on my creative thinking by using tools away from computer activities as it suggests a more linear approach. This is something I really not too familiar with and really need to apply this to my own working process. I will be exploring and analyse different approaches and ways of thinking to get to know myself as a designer much better.

Workshop Challenge

This week’s challenge was hard to grasp at first on where I wanted to focus my theory of ‘Thoughts on ideas’. I researched at looking into the theory of Holistic Thinking as I wanted to get a better understanding of more contemporary processes that engage with social experiences. What I enjoy about this approach is that the thought process does not focus on a part of a problem to solve a solution, it’s focused on the observation of social aspects. The method allows you to look into the perspective of the subject as a whole. This focuses on areas to identify gaps, overlaps, and opportunities to the method of exposure towards an outcome. This reflects on a system of mobility, economic, people, living, governance, and environmental solutions that interact with people’s experiences than focusing on a single element of the product or service that involves the user and design. It looks at going beyond what the expectation is of the client or project.

The whole theory behind holistic thinking is that there is no one model that fits all. The diagram above is one of many examples of how the theory works for user experience. The theory dates back thousands of years ago in the wellbeing of humans. It encouraged people to look at them themselves as a whole person rather than just focusing on a specific body part or illness. It is now relatively new in using the method in brands and understanding the company by looking from the outside in to develop a brand in all departments and not on a single identity.

The approach looks at the brand as a whole and focuses on the departments within the company to see where the strengths and weaknesses lie to allow them to rethink the strategy of building the brand. This means the theory allows a company to align itself to view and analyse the overall company aim. This gives equal importance through every department and ensures a company is running to its full potential, so the brand tone of voice is driven everywhere. to its peers and competitors.

Apple Inc has used the holistic approach when adapting their designs. It was back in 1982 a designer by the name Hartmut Esslinger that define the “snow white” design language that characterised Apple’s products. this still applies today in their brand and makes them the most unique clear and clean technology company in today’s modern world. It was to do with the original Apple products showed little resemblance to each other as every department worked separately with there own heads of design. Using the holistic approach it allowed Apple to overview all their products as a whole and designed them to have an overall synthesis. This, in turn, powered their brand image.

Companies adopt a holistic approach for different reasons. However, one overall goal is usually growth – being that in a current local or international market, or when expanding globally. As well as approaching companies and products with a holistic view, the holistic approach can also be used to look at a company’s market and audience, being that their current or potential. It is important for companies to understand a market with cultural context so they can pursue growth with the specific needs of the culture at the forefront of their expansion. Using the same marketing techniques and structure in each country won’t make every growth or expansion venture successful.

Developing holistic views on markets, businesses, companies, and products increase the likelihood of success and growth within a country. The more a company knows about the country and culture they’re in or expanding into, the better their global advances will be. The easier a product/service is to access and consume in a country, the more trust customers will have in that company. There is no such thing in knowing too much about a market.

Holistic Design Process Resources

This video shows a really great explanation as to how holistic thinking is applied in theory.

Line drawing examples

BlackLine Drawing

This idea was about people’s experience through Holistic thinking and I thought in doing this line drawing I would use one attempt to create my piece. So I drew my image through drawing on one line continuous (might of lifted the tip) through listening to the entire song by Led Zeppelin – Whole Lot of Love at 5:34. This feels like an experiment more but I thought let’s give it a try.

Outcome

Producing this piece for the workshop challenge was a fun, challenging, and experimental design work that I’ve produced this week. I wanted to bring some experience into making this piece and thought to record the workshop for my research. Holistic Thinking is about empathy, feelings, understanding, experiences, technical, economic, environmental, and people. I tried to show this in my line drawings whilst listening to the whole song of Led Zeppelin, Whole lot of Love, which I thought suited to the theme of this experiment. At this stage looking back I feel this is a sketch phase and can finalise a better interpretation of the idea later. I wanted to evoke the idea of the theory into my project and now I’ve created this I feel I could push it further. I could use different mediums in my technique such as brush strokes, string, soil, sand, charcoal, and broken cereal that I could explore. I can also use the different genres of music with either medium and also attempt this blindfolded or in a blackout room so I cant see how I navigate my image. This has helped me think a lot more about my approach to creating through different mediums and techniques.

Thursday Webinar with
Jim Sutherl&

Notes

Jim Sutherland’s talk was very inspiring and joyful to watch. I really love his approach to his work through work, play, and joy that he constantly applies this thought through his work. He really gave some useful tips on ways to help with managing, researching, and methods in his practice for us to reflect on our approach for the future. I personally want to keep improving as a designer and looking back at this talk there are many things I’ve taken from this and have given me a great reflection as a designer. Joy will be the first step towards my progress and playful will be the beginning.

Ideas Wall

My Weekly Reflection

This week was the beginning of the 2nd brief, Process. The definition of the process is ‘A series of actions or steps taken in order to achieve a particular end.’ This was an eye-opener as not one size fits all in the theory of generating ideas. So much experimental techniques were spoken about the process of thinking and given me a greater knowledge of these theories. The theories show a diverse range of ways that people can use to follow a documented journal of their thinking. Surely, as each method is different, you should consider what the right technique is suited for you? Then Suzanne started talking about the double diamond process that was a much better process and a clearer way to generate ideas. I’ve never heard of this approach until I started this course and it was a great insight to discover this. This method has clarity, structure, and a managed process that is a very simplified graphical way. It allows you to question at every stage and with your data you can analyse and reflect in changes to make greater results to your idea. Always a questionable and tangible method that you can reflect upon and learn from your mistakes for future projects. To further my research in ‘Thoughts on ideas’ I wanted to explore something more contemporary and experience in social behavior. I looked into the theory of Holistic Thinking as this does not focus on a part of a problem to solve a solution, it’s focused on the observation of social aspects. The method allows you to look into the perspective of the subject as a whole. This focuses on areas to identify gaps, overlaps, and opportunities to the method of exposure towards an outcome. This reflects on a system of mobility, economic, people, living, governance, and environmental issues that connect with people’s experiences than focusing on a single element of the product or service that involves the user and design. It looks at going beyond what the expectation is on any given project to fulfill its aspiration and motif. I really enjoyed the workshop challenge as I approach my idea of experimenting with a way of drawing through feelings of emotion and time management. I chose to experience working on a line drawing through a continuous loop of creating a drawing through the emotion of listening to music. I wanted to evoke the idea of the theory into my project and now I’ve created this I feel I could push it further. I could use different mediums in my technique such as brush strokes, string, soil, sand, charcoal, and broken cereal that I could explore. I can also use the different genres of music with either medium and also attempt this blindfolded or in a blackout room so I cant see how I navigate my image. This has helped me think a lot more about my approach to creating through different mediums and techniques. Learning these approaches for generating ideas will lead me to grasp a way of thinking and putting it in my own practice. Hopefully, I won’t be afraid to challenge these theories and strengthen my skills in the field of design, which I will also learn from any mistakes to improve for future reference.

Category : Contemporary Practice