Ideation barriers

Ideation calls for curiosity and openness to experience and innovation. But without losing spontaneity ideas need to be organised and managed too. And if ideas seem slow to develop or get stuck don't go for the easy option of blaming external factors. What stops ideas from happening is often as much down to internal barriers and obstructions as external ones.

After the idea ...

'After the idea there's plenty of time to learn the technology', says James Dyson of vacuum cleaner fame. However, having relocated production to the Far East, Dyson is keen to make the UK the leading high tech exporter in Europe arguing that 'We need more entrepreneurs. We need more innovators. We need more scientists, engineers and designers who can turn ideas into working products'. Some challenge then when faced with the decline in British manufacturing.

Metaphor as ideation tool

Often associated with literature, art and poetry, metaphor is commmonly used when generating and communicating design ideas, and whether the idea is abstract, concrete or visual. Using metaphor is arguably a more persuasive technique than simile using "like" or "as" because a metaphor carries stronger emotions than a simile (whereas metaphor is a figure of speech, a simile is more of a logical argument). The strategic use of metaphor, then, is a powerful ideation tool that can make the difference between success and failure of idea presentation.

Idea sharing

Communicating ideas is more than getting other people excited about your idea. In collaborative situations it’s also about sharing ownership of ideas where you can be seen as the creative leader of your idea allowing others to contribute and push the idea forward. The risk with sharing ownership is that you might feel “losing control” of your idea. That risk, however, should be balanced with the opportunity of having your idea appreciated, supported and realised more quickly.

Ideation is purposeful

Ideas happen in context. Take every opportunity then to share your ideas with others. Whilst ideation is personally fulfilling its purpose is to engage other people. The key to this is idea communication. Through collaboration and rooting your ideas in targeted community you'd raise the odds to making your ideas happen.

Doing ideas

Talking ideas is comparatively effortless. Therefore most people like to talk about their ideas but do very little. But often there isn't much that needs to be said to realise ideas. In contrast, there is a lot that needs to be done. The way to close the gap between talking and making ideas happen then is to say less and do more.

Ideation and use of metaphor

Language in the widest sense plays an important role in the early fuzzy stages of design and helps to identify and capture design concepts. Metaphor use is part of this process. In a study on how novice architecture students assess the use of metaphors and the creativity of their own designs, it was found that the most important role that metaphors play in design problem solving is to support the design of innovative products. In contrast, the use of metaphors did not help so much in the functional and aesthetic aspects of design (Casakin, H.P. 2007. Metaphors in Design Problem Solving: Implications for Creativity).