Divergent Thinking Examples

Summary

This video introduces divergent thinking as a creative problem-solving technique in design. It explains how divergent thinking helps generate multiple ideas by exploring design problems from various angles. The video focuses on three key techniques: concept maps, which help brainstorm and explore subtopics; word lists, which involve expanding key terms to uncover related ideas; and the ideabox, which uses a grid to combine design features and generate different solutions. These methods encourage flexibility and in-depth exploration, enabling designers to approach challenges with creativity and innovation.

Takeaways

• 😀 Divergent thinking involves developing ideas in multiple directions by exploring design problems without worrying about whether the ideas are good or bad.
• 😀 Concept maps are a brainstorming technique that start with a main idea and branch out to explore related subtopics, such as stakeholders, constraints, materials, and design principles.
• 😀 A concept map helps explore various aspects of a design problem, including needs, wants, opportunities, product types, and environmental considerations.
• 😀 Word lists involve writing down words or phrases related to the design problem, and then expanding on these words to generate further ideas for exploration.
• 😀 By expanding on words in a word list (e.g., user, location, shape, features), you can identify new insights and inspiration for design, such as materials or innovative features.
• 😀 The ideabox method involves creating a grid with columns and rows to explore combinations of design features and possibilities.
• 😀 The ideabox allows you to combine various design features (e.g., shapes, materials, finishes) to generate multiple potential design outcomes for a project.
• 😀 Using a 4x5 grid in the ideabox can result in 70 possible outcomes, and adding more rows or columns can expand the number of possibilities exponentially.
• 😀 Divergent thinking strategies like concept maps, word lists, and the ideabox encourage a broad exploration of ideas, helping designers think outside the box and discover innovative solutions.
• 😀 The key to divergent thinking is not focusing on the quality of ideas initially but on generating a wide range of possibilities to be refined later.

Q & A

What is divergent thinking?

Divergent thinking refers to the process of developing ideas by exploring design problems in multiple directions, without immediate concern for whether the ideas are good or bad.

How does divergent thinking apply to design problems?

In the context of design, divergent thinking is used to explore a problem from various angles, generating a wide range of possible solutions and approaches.

What is the primary goal when using divergent thinking techniques?

The primary goal is to free ideas from our minds and get them down on paper, without worrying about the quality of the ideas at the initial stage.

What are some examples of divergent thinking techniques mentioned in the video?

The video mentions several techniques for divergent thinking, including concept maps, word lists, and the idea box.

How does a concept map work in divergent thinking?

A concept map starts with the main idea in the center and branches out into related subtopics, allowing the user to explore various aspects of the problem, such as stakeholders, constraints, and possible solutions.

What is the purpose of creating subtopics in a concept map?

The subtopics help to explore different angles of the design problem, such as needs, wants, opportunities, constraints, materials, and design principles, leading to a deeper understanding of the problem.

What is the process of creating a word list for divergent thinking?

To create a word list, you start by writing down words or phrases that relate to the design problem, then expand on these words by exploring their connections to the problem, which can inspire further ideas and solutions.

Can you provide an example of how the word list strategy works?

For example, if designing a new chair, you might start with words like 'users,' 'features,' 'shapes,' and 'sizes,' then expand on these by considering the type of users, possible chair features, and the material or shape options.

What is the idea box technique, and how is it used?

The idea box is a grid where key features of a design problem are listed in rows, and possibilities for each feature are listed in columns. The user explores different combinations of these features to generate a wide range of potential outcomes.

How many possible combinations can be generated using a 4x5 idea box grid?

Using a 4x5 idea box grid, there are a total of 70 possible combinations of design outcomes. The number of possibilities increases exponentially with additional rows or columns.