Ideation logic

There can be logic in ideation, even if it arrives by a most illogical route.

Is there method in design ideation?

Whereas the "Aha!", or "Eureka!" moment may be thought of as a subconscious activity, design ideation, as an integrated whole of generating, developing and communicating ideas, might suggest strategic thinking and not just processes out of our conscious control. Design ideation as strategy, then, might be regarded as a form of experimental science, a series of actions or procedure that can be tested and refined and categorised, classified, defined or codified and so built into methodology.

So for example, TRIZ is a model for generating ideas that relies on the study of the patterns of problems and solutions. Based on logic and data, not on the spontaneous and intuitive creativity of individuals or groups, the effectiveness of TRIZ, is, however, disputed, particularly for non-engineering fields.

Design ideation, then, cannot be regarded as a single, sharply defined methodology; there are many different tools, processes, and philosophies of ideation. See also blog January 16.