Techniques for Stimulating Creativity references: –Voland, Gerard, Engineering by Design, Pearson Prentice Hall, Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ, –Panitz, Beth, "BrainStorms," ASEE Prism, March 1998, pgs 25–29.

Creativity Stimulation Techniques Brainstorming Brainstorming Brainwriting Brainwriting Bionics Bionics Checklisting Checklisting Analogy and Adaptation Analogy and Adaptation Obtaining a fresh perspective Obtaining a fresh perspective Inversion Inversion Idea diagrams Idea diagrams

Brainstorming Generate as many ideas as possible in a given amount of time Generate as many ideas as possible in a given amount of time The more ideas generated, the greater the likelihood some promising ones will emerge The more ideas generated, the greater the likelihood some promising ones will emerge Four brainstorming rules to follow as recommended by Osborn in Applied Imagination Four brainstorming rules to follow as recommended by Osborn in Applied Imagination –Defer all criticism of ideas –Encourage a "free-wheeling" approach (the wilder the idea, the better) –Go for quantity –Combine and improve on others' suggestions, when possible Hitchhiking Hitchhiking

Additional Brainstorming Guidelines As described by Beth Panitz in Brainstorms As described by Beth Panitz in Brainstorms –Carefully define the problem upfront –Allow individuals to consider the problem before the group tackles it –Create a comfortable environment –Record all suggestions –Appoint a group member to serve as a facilitator –Keep brainstorming groups small (6 to 12 members is ideal)

Brainwriting A variation on the standard brainstorming technique A variation on the standard brainstorming technique Each member of the group records his or her ideas on a sheet of paper Each member of the group records his or her ideas on a sheet of paper After some time, the sheets are passed to the next person in the group After some time, the sheets are passed to the next person in the group Each individual builds on the ideas that were generated previously Each individual builds on the ideas that were generated previously Allows process to move forward without any premature criticism of the ideas Allows process to move forward without any premature criticism of the ideas However, the positive interaction and reinforcement that may occur in a regular brainstorming session will not be present However, the positive interaction and reinforcement that may occur in a regular brainstorming session will not be present

Bionics Search for an existing solution within nature that can be adapted to solve the problem under consideration Search for an existing solution within nature that can be adapted to solve the problem under consideration Velcro, vortex noise Velcro, vortex noise

Checklisting The use of words and questions to trigger creative thoughts The use of words and questions to trigger creative thoughts The triggers often focus on possible changes to an existing product, concept, or system The triggers often focus on possible changes to an existing product, concept, or system Toaster Toaster

Analogy Four different types of analogies Four different types of analogies –Direct analogy - current problem is directly related to a similar problem which has been solved (satellites and yo-yos ) –Fantasy analogy - when confronted with a problem that cannot be solved, imagine that a solution already exists ("stratium" solder ) –Symbolic analogy - use a poetic or literary analogy to generate ideas when confronted by a problem that cannot be easily solved ("clings like a barnacle" ) –Personal analogy - imagine being part of the system to view the problem from a different perspective (new shampoo )

Adaptation Adaptation Adaptation –look for ways existing designs can generate new solutions to unrelated problems (running shoe ) –old (and rejected) concepts can be revamped into useful forms

A Fresh Perspective Describe the problem that is being solved to someone else who is not involved in the design process (they may be able to provide new insights and a new perspective) Describe the problem that is being solved to someone else who is not involved in the design process (they may be able to provide new insights and a new perspective) Elevator Elevator Sometimes just the task of explaining the problem helps to more clearly understand the objectives of the design Sometimes just the task of explaining the problem helps to more clearly understand the objectives of the design

Inversion Concentrate on ways to make a product or system less effective and then invert these ideas to form ways in which the product can be improved (energy savings in building ) Concentrate on ways to make a product or system less effective and then invert these ideas to form ways in which the product can be improved (energy savings in building ) Invert the problem statement (trash in a Holland city ) Invert the problem statement (trash in a Holland city ) Invert an existing product or system (recycling ) Invert an existing product or system (recycling )

Idea Diagrams Allow the organization and correlation of ideas as they are generated Allow the organization and correlation of ideas as they are generated Divide solutions into different categories and subcategories that become increasingly more well defined Divide solutions into different categories and subcategories that become increasingly more well defined Transporting people (soldiers) from one location to another Transporting people (soldiers) from one location to another