The effects of explicit alternative generation techniques in consumer product design (original) (raw)

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Creativity as a tool for prospective use analysis in the design of innovative products

Proceedings of the Ergonomie et …, 2010

Ergonomists' participation to New Product Development (NPD) projects has undergone major evolutions in recent years. One consequence is the changing status of the ergonomist, from an expert in diagnosing existing activities, to an expert in identifying opportunities in the use of a new product, with a need for new methods and tools to assist prospective analysis of future use. We propose an original approach to address this need of designers in general and ergonomists in particular. We first present a survey of issues regarding ergonomics involvement in NPD projects. We then argue that creativity methods may be used to address some of these issues. Lastly, we describe a protocol to test this claim, assessing the benefits of two creativity methods -- brainwriting and discovery matrices -- for prospective use analysis, with two different applications: the design of products based on emerging technologies, and that of safety systems.

Divergent thinking and the design process

1999

The paper explores a view of research on creativity in design not based on traditional cognitive science models. Research from the creative cognition standpoint is reviewed with an example and the problem of applying it to the design case is explained. Creative techniques used in design lack a scientific base and lack an evaluation of their effectiveness. They emphasise the generation of ideas and not the generation of tangible solutions. The argument states that design research should be looking neither to the act of idea generation nor to the act of form generation and reinterpretation but to the enacted use environment in which designers operate and from which functions emerge. Departing from new models in cognitive science two hypotheses are formed. The first claims that the creative outcome in design may be based on an enacted experience of use and not on a rationalisation of imagery or represented forms. The second claims that diagrams created during the design process, mainly in its first stages, may serve the purpose of problem finding and not of problem solving.

Creativity in Product Innovation

2002

The restricted-unrestricted scope ideation dilemma Creativity Templates and other structured approaches The major perspectives of the Creativity Templates approach References 3 A Critical Review of Popular Creativity-enchancement Methods Brainstorming Lateral thinking "Six Thinking Hats" Mind mapping Random stimulation References Part II The Creativity Templates 4 The Attribute Dependency Template An antenna in the snow-a detailed illustration A disadvantage turned into an advantage Generalization of the Attribute Dependency Template-an innovative lipstick The basic principle of Attribute Dependency How to compete with "Domino's Pizza"-a hypothetical case Making a better candle Are accidents necessary for locating ideas for new products? Attribute Dependency-between attributes vs. within attributes dependency Cycles of dependencies Summary References Contents vi The Forecasting Matrix Searching for Attribute Dependency Classification of variables The forecasting matrix Forecasting matrix-analyzing baby ointment Managing the ideation process issues Improving scanning efficiency through heuristics Summary Operational prescription References 6 The Replacement Template What is the Replacement Template? Implementation of the Replacement Template Case study 1-a chair 109 Case study 2-a scanner Case study 3-butter patties 116 When is exclusion appropriate? 119 Case study 4-Nike-Air® ads 119 Case study 5-Bally shoe ads Replacement vs. Attribute Dependency 122 Operational prescription References 7 The Displacement Template What is the Displacement Template? 124 Displacement is not unbundling 127 Implementation of the Displacement Template Observations on the Displacement Template Operational prescription References Contents vii 8 The Component Control Template What is the Component Control Template? The thought process inherent in applying the Component Control Template Component Control without the need for a change in the product Observations on the Component Control Template Operational prescription References Part III A closer look at Templates 9 Templates in Advertising 10 Further Background to the Template Theory Space Characteristics Links Configuration Operators Creativity Templates as macro operators References Contents viii Part IV Validation of the Templates theory 11 Demarcating the Creativity Templates Mapping research: toward a product-based framework for Templates definition Can Templates explain and predict the emergence of blockbuster products? Can training in Templates improve creativity and quality of product ideas? How effective are the Templates? How effective is the Attribute Dependency Template? Conclusions References

Creative brains: designing in the real worldâ€

Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 2014

The process of designing artifacts is a creative activity. It is proposed that, at the cognitive level, one key to understanding design creativity is to understand the array of symbol systems designers utilize. These symbol systems range from being vague, imprecise, abstract, ambiguous, and indeterminate (like conceptual sketches), to being very precise, concrete, unambiguous, and determinate (like contract documents). The former types of symbol systems support associative processes that facilitate lateral (or divergent) transformations that broaden the problem space, while the latter types of symbol systems support inference processes facilitating vertical (or convergent) transformations that deepen of the problem space. The process of artifact design requires the judicious application of both lateral and vertical transformations. This leads to a dual mechanism model of design problem-solving comprising of an associative engine and an inference engine. It is further claimed that this dual mechanism model is supported by an interesting hemispheric dissociation in human prefrontal cortex. The associative engine and neural structures that support imprecise, ambiguous, abstract, indeterminate representations are lateralized in the right prefrontal cortex, while the inference engine and neural structures that support precise, unambiguous, determinant representations are lateralized in the left prefrontal cortex. At the brain level, successful design of artifacts requires a delicate balance between the two hemispheres of prefrontal cortex.

New design methodologies for creative development of new products

Temes De Disseny, 2000

In the new market situation, innovation in designing products is needed. To achieve this when faced with classic analysis and investigation methods of a retrospective nature, prospective design methods are necessary, and these methods have as their main function the creation of new creative hypotheses with a view to the future. Prospective methods tend to satisfy consumers' as yet unformulated expectations and needs. Here is an exposition of the basic characteristics of prospective design methods, from the process phase to the making up of teams which are to participate in these processes. ' GABINA, Juanjo. (1995). El futuro revisitado. La reflexión prospectiva como arma de estrategia y decisión. Barcelona: Marcombo. Boixareu Editores, p. 21. 2 SCHREIUVOGKL, Peter. (1993) «La estrategia empresarial: un ejemplo práctico». 2" Congrés d'Economia Valenciana. Comunicacions [Castelló], vol. I, p. 21. 3 ANDRADE, Monica. «La imagen de empresa. El principal activo». El País. (21 February). 4 Hence the Anglo-Saxon definition of the discipline of prospectives as Futures Studies, i.e. 'studies of the future'. See BELL, Wendell (1997). Foundations of Futures Studies. Human Science for a New Era, vol. I: History, Purposes and Knowledge. New Bruswick and London: Transaction publishers. 5 EL(AS, Joan. La organización atenta (Ediciones Gestión 2000), quoted in JURADO, Enrique. «Directivos cortos de miras: muchos ejecutivos españoles carecen de visión global de la empresa y tienen serias dificultades para adaptarse a entornos más abiertos.» El País, (Sunday, 7 April).

A creativity-based design process for innovative product design

International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 2004

In today's highly competitive and uncertain market environment with short product life cycles, product development must not only satisfy the quality and speed of production, but it must ensure that products themselves have included innovative values. As creativity plays an important role in new product development (NPD), it can be utilized in search of novel ideas for innovative product design, and also can be regarded as a helpful tool in advancing NPD output. In this paper, we developed a creativity method based on the naturally sensuous ability of human beings. We also proposed a creativity-based design process integrating some systematic design methodologies with a developed creativity tool. The essence of this proposed design process is not the sole performance of the creativity tool but the coherent efforts among each involved process technique. To prove the practicability of this design process, a case study was conducted according to various procedures that were followed. By applying evolutionary thinking, the sensuous association method, and other systematic approaches to the design process, a number of concept solutions were produced. An optimal solution was then determined by using an operative decision-making model based on the weighted generalized mean method. Relevance to industry Rebuilding a product design process (PDP) with creativity techniques can effectively assist designers in encouraging design creativity, further improving the overall performance of innovative product design. Accordingly, this research provides a new approach to the design process for industries by taking advantage of a creativity-based design process to achieve the goals of innovative product design.

Creativity in the Design Process

Springer Series in Design and Innovation, 2022

Springer Series in Design and Innovation (SSDI) publishes books on innovation and the latest developments in the fields of Product Design, Interior Design and Communication Design, with particular emphasis on technological and formal innovation, and on the application of digital technologies and new materials. The series explores all aspects of design, e.g. Human-Centered Design/User Experience, Service Design, and Design Thinking, which provide transversal and innovative approaches oriented on the involvement of people throughout the design development process. In addition, it covers emerging areas of research that may represent essential opportunities for economic and social development. In fields ranging from the humanities to engineering and architecture, design is increasingly being recognized as a key means of bringing ideas to the market by transforming them into user-friendly and appealing products or services. Moreover, it provides a variety of methodologies, tools and techniques that can be used at different stages of the innovation process to enhance the value of new products and services. The series' scope includes monographs, professional books, advanced textbooks, selected contributions from specialized conferences and workshops, and outstanding Ph.D. theses.

Creative brains: designing in the real world

Frontiers in human neuroscience, 2014

The process of designing artifacts is a creative activity. It is proposed that, at the cognitive level, one key to understanding design creativity is to understand the array of symbol systems designers utilize. These symbol systems range from being vague, imprecise, abstract, ambiguous, and indeterminate (like conceptual sketches), to being very precise, concrete, unambiguous, and determinate (like contract documents). The former types of symbol systems support associative processes that facilitate lateral (or divergent) transformations that broaden the problem space, while the latter types of symbol systems support inference processes facilitating vertical (or convergent) transformations that deepen of the problem space. The process of artifact design requires the judicious application of both lateral and vertical transformations. This leads to a dual mechanism model of design problem-solving comprising of an associative engine and an inference engine. It is further claimed that th...