Ideation and reflective design

The application of generative AI, GAI to design ideation raises the question what is the imapact of GAI on reflective design. That is, designers typically reflect on their actions, both during the design process ("thinking on one's feet") and after it, in what Schön calls reflection-in-action and reflection-on-action (The Reflective Practitioner, 1984). Moreover, reflective design, which implies critically thinking about the design process, suggests that designers need to reflect on the unconscious ways in how technology, such as GAI shape designers'  decision making, actions, and design proposals. For example, what is the impact of GAI, such as communication with a text-to-text model or text-to-image model, on designer ability to uncover hidden biases or limitations on design practice. In Reflective Design (Sengers et al, 2005) the authors argue, when designing with technology: 'Each person has preconceived notions shaped by their personal journey and that affects their practice as a designer. Thus, one needs to unpack personal ideologies and determine how they influence the reflective design processes.' Moreover, the authors state: 'Technology shouldn’t be viewed as the optimal medium for design; technology imposes its own set of constraints and values to its users which should be addressed.' The notion of the reflective practitioner, and reflective design, then, serve as a guide for designers in the age of AI too.

Solo or group ideation?

Design is typically a collaborative activity, at least for major projects that involve many stakeholders. But what about the early stages of the design process, in the phase of generating ideas? Does ideating on one's own result in substantially different ideas compared with ideating in a group (typically five or more people), including so called "brainstorming"? Research suggests that in the workplace people become less productive in a team compared to working alone. This phenomenon has been labelled "social loafing" whereby people are said to be less likely to feel personally accountable for the outcome of a task when they are working in group. So would the concept of social loafing apply to ideation? In other words, is there a change in motivation among ideators when the ideation task is shared in group work? This, of course, would depend on the task at hand, or the composition or dynamics of the group. Moreover, working together can motivate people to perform well but it can also lead to a loss of motivation because the individual contribution is not as visible. As in "who came up with the idea first, and who can take credit for it?". So ideating in group may be a mixed blessing. A way out of this dilemma would be to start ideating alone followed by discussing individual outcomes with the group.

The power of sound

Ideators typically generate ideas through words and images: "In the beginning was the word" or, "a picture says more than a thousand words". Or the dialogue between language (verbal) and visualisation (non-verbal), also described as the picture-word-cycle. Interestingly, the architect Frank Lloyd Wright, in 1930, worked on his lectures for Princeton University: 'I must say I have enjoyed writing them'. The six lectures didn't need images, he added. 'Personally, I've never cared much for illustrated lectures. If we might have some good music to begin with and end with - that might help'. Yet Wright's writing and public lecture series provided a new outlet for his ideas. Moreover, on the power of music, the pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim, in the first of his five BBC Reith Lectures, in 2013, argued, in examining the transformative power of music in the world: 'In the beginning, there was silence. And out of the silence came the sound'. Furthermore, it has been said that in the beginning was sound. Sound began the whole thing, and in sound resides tremendous power. It opens doorways to other realities, for with the production of sound, energy can move from one system to another. Now, there's a thought for ideators: The power of sound stirring imagination and innovation. Source: Wright quote: Alofsin, A (2019) Wright and New York. New Haven: Yale University Press. Barenboim: https://danielbarenboim.com/the-phenomenon-of-sound/