Problem Seeking and Problem Solving

Design Process (4 important questions when starting a project):
1) What is needed?
2) What existing designs are similar to the design we need?
3) What is the difference between the existing designs and the new design?
4) How can we transform, combine, or expand these existing designs?

Key Sources of ideas:
1) Transforming common objects
2) Study nature (creating objects that reflect nature)
3) Museums (look at existing work for inspiration)

Convergent thinking: (following a linear path to a predetermined goal)
1) Define the problem
2) Do research
3) Determine your objective
4) Devise a strategy
5) Execute the strategy
6) Evaluate the results

Divergent thinking: The mean determines the end. Process is more open-ended and the
end result is subject to changes.

Brainstorming: a common way to come up with ideas; this process is a good way to come up with ideas for both divergent and convergent thinking. A good way to flesh out these ideas is with word association—creating a concept map can be a useful way to do this.

Maquette: is a well developed 3D sketch. This is used for mapping out scenes and working with proper proportions.

Model: a rough technical experiment.

Prototype: a refined version of the model, usually functional.

Personal Views:

In this chapter we learned a lot about divergent and convergent thinking. My personal thought on this is that there is no such person who is solely one or the other. Although we may lean towards a specific method, I do not believe that there is an absolute way to judge the creative method. Instead of looking at it as a two-sided coin, I prefer to look at it as a number line, where everyone falls between the two extremes. I would consider myself very much in the middle on this issue. I have my set ideas, but I am willing to change them if the project would benefit from them. I think though that a lot of projects done in a work setting (such as those who are graphic designers) are forced to think using convergent principles due to the fact that their employer or their client has a set goal in mind (although artistic liberty is often allowed).