Engineers call this step ideating. Navigating through the idea process is the foundation of creativity and innovation. You will brainstorm many, many ideas then analyze them to find the one you think will work. Once you have an idea, what then? What do you have to do with an idea to actually make it into something. This phase will take you through that process of ideation.
Ideating requires two kinds of thinking. Divergent thinking and convergent thinking. Let's examine both before we begin.
In class, with your group, you will use divergent thinking to brainstorm all and any possibilities that may improve, adjust, add to, solve or innovate within your topic area. Then you will use convergent thinking to make smart, thoughtful choices about what you believe will work. Below is are two videos about Design Thinking, divergent thinking and convergent thinking.
Tim Brown, CEO of Ideo, talks about design thinking.
Stanford professor demonstrates divergent and convergent thinking.
P.A.R.T.S. and Proposal!
Harvard Professor, Edward Clapp calls this part the "Biography of an Idea." Looking at how an idea is actually formed and developed is an important part of understanding how creativity and innovation works. Did you know that Facebook was created to get back at a girl? Did you know that Charles Goodyear invented plastic by mistake. He accidentally left two substances on the stove! Did you know the glue for post-it notes was a huge failure. The inventors were trying to make a superstrong glue. Following an idea into an actual product is the other art of ideating. Using the P.A.R.T.S. process you will map out your idea into a proposal.
P** Idea - you need a clear idea of what your p ** will be, how you will make it and what materials, skills and plans you will need.
**product, prototype, publishing, process, problem/solution, programming, etc.Audience - who is your audience/customer/viewer? Who will experience this?
Role (s) - what roles do you need to play.
Tasks - what are the tasks you need to do and when do you need to do them?
Solution - a clear explanation and reason for your product. What problem does this solve? Why will it work? Why does your audience need it?