Research & Presentation

Choosing and Designing an Innovative Solution

1. Choose a Topic

• You must start with an overall topic such as architecture, sports, medicine, or games, to name a few.

• For our purposes we will use The City of the Future

2. Brainstorm Ideas About the Topic

• What are some things that you are curious about?

• Possible considerations for the City of the Future may involve transportation, housing, or food production and distribution.

• For our purposes we will use transportation.

3. Quick-Research the Topic

• Find out a few things about the topic.

• Use key-words and phrases as you search.

  • For transportation you may choose city and transportation as your search words.  You also may want to be a little more specific such as roads, trains, transit, subways, etc.

• For our purposes we will use subways.

4. Choose A Problem Within the Topic

• Think about some of the problems that go along with your topic.

• Think about how you might solve that problem.

• Some examples of problems with subways is that they may be overcrowded, not fast enough, or they do not go to all locations around the city.

• For our purposes we will use overcrowding.

5. Brainstorm a Solution for the Problem

• Write down a few brief ideas that you may have to solve the problem.

• Share your ideas with one or more people.  Be ready to discuss the pros and cons of your solution.

• The goal is to have an innovative solution that has not been thought of already.  

• For our purposes we will use the creation of double-decker subway cars for more passenger room.

6. Research Your Solution

• Look up keywords pertaining to your solution in order to see if your ideas have already been suggested by someone else.

• Use as many word combinations as you can think of.

• If your idea has already been suggested or is already in use you will need to go back to step 5 in which you brainstorm solutions.

• If you are still having difficulty you may want to go back further in the steps.  It nevers hurts to take a fresh look!

7. Design Your Solution

• Start "fleshing out" your idea by writing a proposal, drawing a diagram, or making a model.

• Consult resources that may help as you design.

  • Books

  • internet

  • ask an expert

• Collect data that helps support your idea

  • How much will it cost?

  • Are there statistics that back up what you are suggesting?

  • Did you ask people that are invested in your topic what they think?  You can conduct surveys to find out more.

• Keep track of where you got your information - keep a list (bibliography) 

8. Share Your Research and Solution

• Design a creative way to share your ideas.

• Include all of the important information that explains your idea and supports why it is a viable solution.

• Slideshows and posters do not always have great impact.  Audiences lose interest very quickly.

• Skits (short plays), songs, humor, etc. can convey your ideas in a creative way that is also memorable.

• Graphs and Charts can be used to help explain your ideas more clearly.

• Costumes and props help to get your ideas across more clearly.

• Practice what and how you will present your solution.