Ideation as thinking model

Design ideation, where 'idea' is understood as a basic element of thought could be perceived as a combination of first and second order, or level thinking. That is, from first thought that springs to mind ('surface level thinking') to thinking about the consequences of the idea ('deep level thinking'). Or, to use the analogy of a two-stage explorative rocket, from initial ignition, or spark of ideas, which is fast and has immediate impact, to a sustained effort to develop and effectively communicate the idea bringing the idea into orbit, so to speak, for further discussion and decision making (third level thinking) . The second stage would typically need more than one written sentence or a single rough sketch. Accordingly, the ubiquitous 'brain storming' session would be considered first order thinking whereas desgin ideation would entail second order thinking too. Or, to use another metaphor, from ideas surfing to ideas diving.

Ideation from home

The free flow of ideas highlights how ideation realistically doesn't only happen in the studio, the office or at home, but in many 'other places'. But working remotely from home has been criticised for reducing new ideas and innovation. That is, or so the argument goes, work becomes more siloed, close team interaction diminish over time and new ideas struggle to get in whilst groupthink flourish. Accordingly, to counter remote working from home, people should be back in the office where they can see each other in person, talk to each other and connect face-to-face. Yet the trend to work from home seems strong, facilitated by technology, from video conferencing to Cloud collaboration. But the question remains; what happens to ideation in the working from home scenario. Because ideas are not just abstract but visual and concrete too which call for diverse ways of working and communicating including hands-on activities and person-to-person collaboration.

Good ideation habits

Although experiments suggest that scientists problem-solve by analysis, whereas designers problem-solve by synthesis, there's is synergy in combining the two with each discipline learning from each other's approach to problem solving. So, to find a solution to a hard problem or perform a hard task, scientists typically structure the problem or task in a way that allow success. For example, a hard task such as interpreting a complex set of data might involve a structured process of retrieving, selecting and checking background facts (in some contexts, designers’ ability to understand and interpret data is becoming increasingly important). The better the scientist knows these facts, and the more effectively they devise an efficient plan to evaluate them, the more readily they will solve the problem. As they do more problems, the facts come to mind more easily, and they follow familiar plans to evaluate each. In general, structuring hard problems get better with experience. This is one reason that practice makes scientists more efficient and successful at hard tasks, and why experts outperform novices. Finding work habits that encourage this process helps staying focused. That includes staying with the task and taking breaks. It’s not helpful to insist on trying to get everything done at once, if it just isn’t working. Taking a break, then, might allow new concepts and structures to be considered allowing time for gradual development, or incubation to help problem solving. Furthermore, interacting with others can help conceptualise a problem in new ways. Talking to people with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and viewpoints can be a powerful way to break out of a rut and make progress. Moreover, spontaneous interactions and making time for informal discussion over work can be helpful and avoid isolation. In short, problem-solving habits formed by scientists could be applied in the design field, and many designers have been inspired to adopt or develop such habits. Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00606-x?utm_source=pocket-newtab-global-en-GB

How objective is ideation?

Design is primarily an objective process in its methods and techniques whereas evaluation of the design outcome contains both objective and subjective judgements, say "function" versus "feel" of the designed product or service. Design ideation, however, is, arguably rather a subjective process. It is based on socio-economic realities yet influenced by cultural values and contexts, and, at least in a western perspective preconditioned on freedom to speak, to express one’s self, and to live in societies with fairness and justice. Ideation, then, turns the early stages of the design process mainly into a subjective activity that reflects the values, tastes or opinions of the designer/ideator. The subjective approach, however, does not exclude designing with the end user in mind. That is, the designer designs with empathy too.

Open vs closed ideation

Ideators strive to come with wholly original ideas whereas in fact most ideas are combinations of pre-existing ideas. Think how the proverb "new wines in old bottles" suggests something new or innovatory added to an existing or established product or service, or how "old-wine-in-a-new-bottle" refers to an existing product or service offered as though it were a new one. Both sayings though point to innovation possibilities. That is, of adding value to existing products or services through creative combinations. Now, if ideas are sourced openly, that is, in open creative environments, and algorithmic software trawls the internet and indexes almost every ideas on it by default, then data driven ideation carries huge combinatorial potential. That is, if datas sets can be combined and recombined many times over using algorithms, then ideators could discover new untold design possibilities, and the range of products and services could be far greater and realised much faster than traditional approaches to innovation. The first approach is often referred to as "open" or "mass" innovation where ideas move freely across borders, with no, or few restrictions or border controls. On the other hand, in traditional innovation settings, or "inhouse" or "closed innovation" ideation happens in directed or staged environments. Open vs closed ideation, however, may seem a contradiction in terms as ideas are commonly perceived as "free agents". Yet big corporations, notably in the high-tech industries often expand and develop by buying smaller technology firms and then incorporate their innovations into its own products. However, it should be noted that ideas per se carry no copyright.

Ideas of the earth

Das Lied von der Erde ("The Song of the Earth"), is a musical work by Gustav Mahler (1860-1911), a composition comprised of six songs sourced from ancient Chinese poetry rendered into German. The poetic songs reflect the vision of earthly beauty and transience. Such a vision has influenced cultural practice throughout the ages and, as a philosophical concept, can be found in, for example, the Japanese aesthetic, wabi-sabi, which holds that beauty is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete" in nature, and where transience itself is beautiful. And so too in contemporary design where modernity and tradition come together in an interchange of cultural learning resulting in material objects and artefacts inspired and influenced by nature, craft and technology which are all aspects of the same global whole. And more so in an age demanding sustainability, healthy ecosystems and environments. Indeed ideas of the earth.

Presenting and communicating ideas

Ideation necessarily includes presenting and communicating ideas, the "what" and "how" of ideation. Or simply put, making a presentation is a way of communicating ideas to an audience where communication is the act of transferring information, here the idea from one place, person or group to another. The transferring of the idea to an audience depends on a number of factors such as the cultural context, the medium used to communicate, emotions and location. Take the available means for communicating, for instance, which include verbal, written, visual as well as non-verbal forms (the latter when presenting in person) and the range of channels, including face-to-face, video conferencing, and social media and it becomes clear that successful ideas communication depends on the complexity of the content as well as understanding the intended audience. For example, studies show that concise text paired with visuals helps comprehension of ideas more easily. Or, to convey a complex concept based on, say technical information is easier via a text document than a spoken message. On the other hand, if interaction with the audience would be more appropriate or desirable, a conversation may be more effective than delivering a presentation

On the other hand, conveying complex, technical information is easier via a printed document than a spoken message.

Read more at: https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/what-is-communication.htmlssage.

d more at: https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/what-is-communication.html

On the other hand, conveying complex, technical information is easier via a printed document than a spoken message.

Read more at: https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/what-is-communication.html

On the other hand, conveying complex, technical information is easier via a printed document than a spoken message.

Read more at: https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/what-is-communication.html

conveying complex, technical information is easier via a printed document than a spoken message.

Read more at: https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/what-is-communication.html

conveying complex, technical information is easier via a printed document than a spoken message.

Read more at: https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/what-is-communication.html

conveying complex, technical information is easier via a printed document than a spoken message

Read more at: https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/what-is-communication.html

conveying complex, technical information is easier via a printed document than a spoken message

Read more at: https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/what-is-communication.htmlMoreover, audience feedback can be crucial for the ideator, as presenter to make sure the audience has understood the idea as intended also allowing for any confusion to be corrected. However, if the idea would be best served by interaction with the audience, a conversation is probably more appropriate and effective than delivering a presentation.

ttps://www.skillsyouneed.com/present/what-is-a-presentation.html

Making a presentation is a way of communicating your thoughts and ideas to an audience

Read more at: https://www.skillsyouneed.com/present/what-is-a-presentation.html

Making a presentation is a way of communicating your thoughts and ideas to an audience

Read more at: https://www.skillsyouneed.com/present/what-is-a-presentation.html