1. Generation of Solution This is the essential and central aspect of designing. The whole purpose of design is to make a proposal for something new, something which does not yet exist. Yet, most designing is a variation or modification to an existing product or machine. Then, creativity can often be seen as re-ordering or re-combination of existing elements.

2. Morphological Chart In creative re-ordering, a relatively small number of basic elements or components can usually be combined in a large number of different ways. The number of different arrangements (patterns or designs) soon becomes a combinatorial explosion of possibilities. The morphological chart method exploits this phenomenon. The number of possible combinations is very high, and includes not only existing, conventional solutions but also a wide range of variations and completely novel solutions. The main aim of this method is to widen the search for possible new solutions.

3. The Morphological Chart Method List the features or functions that are essential to the product. - Although not too long, the list must comprehensively cover the functions, at an appropriate level of generalization. For each feature or function, list the means by which it might be achieved. - These lists might include new ideas as well as known existing components or sub-solutions. Draw up a chart containing all the possible sub-solutions. - The chart represents the total solution space for the product, made up of the combinations of sub-solutions. Identity feasible combinations of sub-solutions. - The total number of possible combinations may be very large. Search strategies may have to be guided by constraints or criteria.

4. Example 1: Vehicle Configurations Function of vehicles defined as : support, drive, stability, control. The means of achieving these functions is classified as land, water or air. Try to identify combinations other than those defining a car, a boat or an airplane => landyacht, windsurf board, hovercraft, hydrofoil

5. Landyacht, Windsurf board, hovercraft, hydrofoil

6. Example 2: Potato Harvesting Machine

7. Example 3: Welding Positioner What is welding positioner? - supporting and holding a workpiece and locating it in a suitable position for welding. One possible combination of sub-solutions is indicated by the zig-zag line through the chart.

8. Alternatives for the actual embodiment of some of the sub-solutions product

9. Example 4: Shaft Coupling Morphological analysis. Oldham coupling.

10. Design for a novel form of coupling

11. Example 5: Field Maintenance Machine: Form Arrangement Alternatives for configuring the elements: operator engine driven wheels non-driven wheels one, two, three vertical levels three- or four- wheel machines

12. Example 5: Field Maintenance Machine: Form Arrangement

15. Example: Forklift truck What are the essential generic features?

16. Example: Forklift truck Identify the essential generic features. –Means of support which allows movement –Means of moving the vehicle –Means of steering the vehicle –Means of stopping the vehicle –Means of lifting loads –Location for operator

17. Example: Forklift truck