Concept generation is a crucial step in the development of Whispr, with it placing a focus on developing innovative solutions for amateur singers around the world. By tapping into creativity and problem-solving, Whispr aims to develop a wide range of potential solutions, breaking through the bounds set by our individual positionally. These initial concepts will set the stage for the rest of the project, propelling Whispr towards a successful solution by exploring unexplored avenues.
Brainstorming is the most basic and widely used form of concept generation. The pressure is low and there isn't a guide for the creative process, allowing team members to explore any space they want. The brainstorming process that was done produced lots of unique visual designs, as well as broadened technical options. For example, an elliptical design was drafted for sound-entrapping geometry. Additionally, the method of sound attenuation was explored beyond just materials, but rather considering the redirection of the sound to another place.
As a result of brainstorming, there were a variety of ideas developed of all shapes and sizes. Furthermore, it allowed for a simple and effective way of gathering various perspectives from a diverse team.
The Brick Toss method was also proven to be an essential stage in concept generation. This method unleashes creativity by forcing members to come up with solutions in the time it takes to toss the brick onto the next team member. The limited time forces the person to think of a solution without fear of judgement. This process drives innovation due to it constantly forcing the particpant to think outside the box. As time progress, it becomes more difficult to think of something quickly, further forcing the participant to suggest even more creative solutions to the given problem.
As a group, we completed this activity to provide a solution to a singer being heard by their rooomates, ultimately having to end their practice session. In order to solve this, our group came up with solutions like singing into a bucket of water, soundproofing the practice room, or to even cast spells on their roommate so they can no longer hear! This wide range of responses demonstrates the creativity this activity invokes. While some solutions may be more extreme than others, it still helped us consider unique solutions to the problem.
Mind maps follow a similar level of open-ended concept generation, except this time they focus more on various associations, instead of developed concepts. They encourage non-linear thinking by allowing for the branching of ideas in various directions, from a wearable solution to something that acts more like a booth. This can help break free from traditional, linear thought processes and stimulate creativity by exploring different paths and connections.
A result of the mind map is that it allowed for the visualization of various functions (ex. sound attenuation, breathability, aesthetics), and it provided preliminary information for the concept tree that was later developed.
Heuristic cards strike a balance between creativity and structure, allowing for a new type of concept generation to be performed. While open-ended concept generation techniques, like brainstorming, allow for endless creativity without imposing any restrictions, heuristic cards force the designer to consider ideas that may appear less obvious at first.
As a result of the heuristic cards, thinking about the product lifetime opened another avenue for design. Rather than the device containing a permanent sound-dampening material, the consideration for replaceable or disposable dampening materials was explored to deal with saliva collection during extended singing lessons. This consideration is essential in the design of Whispr because it can increase the longevity of the device while ensuring the safety of the customer.
Combination tables are great for providing structured idea generation in a way that makes it easy to mix and match elements to create complete concepts. In the case for this product, the above table shows all the important categories with the potential solutions beneath them. Ultimately, when creating the top concepts, this table was the most useful for selecting features from categories and evaluating which ones went together well.
As a result, this allowed for the creation of some unexpected combinations, such as splitting up the mask's contact area with the user's face to increase comfortability and breathability.
Find the functional decomposition and the concept trees under: