Computer Aided Ideation, CAI

Most post-modern architecture, arguably, couldn’t have been designed or built without the computer. But computing goes beyond the purely technical aspects of design. As exemplified by Guggenheim Bilbao, the computer was harnessed to create a "stirring emotional experience". What does this mean for producing inspirational and transformational ideas? Will computers in the future by-pass the human creative process of ideation?

If ideation can be seen as a form of human dialogue, then the challenge for ideation by computer is revealed in the difference between "stateless" and "stateful" conversation, as found in research on artificial intelligence and cognitive science.

In a "stateless" conversation, each question and answer is self-contained, providing its own context and responding only to the immediately previous remark.

In contrast, human conversation is generally in the "stateful" mode, where each remark and reply builds on the last, creating an accumulation of context in which later remarks gain additional shades of meaning (without this context, an eavesdropper would find the conversation difficult to understand).

However, humans don't always converse in the stateful mode, and bot programmers (who write software applications that run automated tasks over the Internet) explicitly try to steer the conversation towards the mathematically simpler stateless forms of dialogue.

Brian Christian*, a researcher in the field, describes how he found the chatbots' deliberate attempts to simplify language reminiscent of human conversation at its most lacklustre. Hardly then the mode of conversation that helped create Guggenheim Bilbao.

Christian, B. 2011. The Most Human Human: A Defence of Humanity In The Age Of The Computer. Viking

Why ideation skills matter

In a globalised design industry there's a shift from the maker and the craftsman to the market strategist and the innovator. Designers, then, will have to work as a team with other professionals. But above all, what designers truly get paid for is their creativity and ability to generate ideas. Ideation skills, then, become crucial in order for the team to produce creative solutions for their clients.

Style is substance

Dyson industries, of vacuum cleaner fame, have some 500 mechanical engineers, industrial and product designers working together under one roof where ideas come thick and fast. Yet while Dyson's staff are openly encouraged to pitch ideas, ideation has to be focused, and ideas kept on track.

As a result Dyson's engineers are said to be more interested in how things work than how they look, and claim they never launched anything that doesn't work. Yet while the company admits it has launched some ugly products, Dyson believes that this quest for perfection over style has been crucial to the success of the company.

True, style isn't everything and substance counts for lot. But Dyson could learn from design-driven companies such as Apple that style itself has become a kind of substance.

Ideation for action

Ideation is essentially a reflective activity. After the Eureka! moment, there's is slowing down,
questioning, humbling oneself, constructing, deconstructing, constructing again, patiently
building knowledge and applying it ... 

Worthless ideas?

'All ideas have degrees of potential. And if your idea is unique and has massive potential, that’s great. But don’t just stand still and think you’re sitting on a goldmine. Since only when you execute on the idea, and realize its potential, do you create value and wealth'.

Dave Lavinsky of Growthink.

Ideation constraints

Design ideation is sometimes being perceived as starting with a "blank page". The reality, however, is that ideation, as part of the design process, is not limitless but constrained by internal and external factors.

Internal factors may include; knowledge base, long term memory, and the designer's sense of audience or client needs. External factors may include; time allocated to the task, brief specification, client expectations, ideation tools for the job (skills and availabilty), and the designer's access to reference material.

X Idea

Method and Central Saint Martins (CSM) have come together to create Method Design Lab, MDL, a new business accelerator, which aims to bring up to 20 innovations to market each year.

MDL operates a step process to take an idea from concept to full commercialisation:

Step 1 - Idea sources: Ideas are identified from sources including the 4,500+ CSM students and the extensive internal and external global network of Method and CSM experts.

Step 2 - Primary selection: Ideas are selected using an online voting system that allows Method and CSM experts to identify which ideas should be explored further. This step draws on over 100 global experts that specialise in design, innovation and user-experience who have a track record in bringing innovation ideas to the market.

Step 3 - Early feasibility: Ideas that make it beyond the online voting stage undergo a rigorous internal vetting process with those who make the cut then being subject to due diligence in which the Method Design Lab team will identify potential routes to market, possible competition, design potential and audience.

Step 4 - Transfer of ownership: Once early feasibility has been conducted and the idea is to progress further an agreement is reached with the IP author.

Step 5 - Development: This involves the development of the idea to prototype stage and is where the combined strength of the joint venture partners will come to light. MDL, CSM and Method staff will bring their discipline expertise to bear and ensure that the output of this phase is as high a caliber as the world-class work done for clients of the independent consultancies.

Step 6 - Commercialisation: Developed idea is presented to potential market partners and additional investors to support large scale commercialisation and development.

Source: http://www.dexigner.com/news/22510