Development of Principle

Solutions and Idea Generation

ir. Andr Liem

Associate Professor
Institutt for Produktdesign
Rom: 344
Tel: +47 73 59 01 22
Fax: +47 73 59 01 10
Mobile: +47 907 74 215
E-mail: andre.liem@ntnu.no February 2008

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 Agenda
Introduction
Overview of Creativity
Iterative Divergent and Convergent
Thinking
Methods of Idea Generation
Topic Driven Idea Generation
Problem Driven Idea Generation
Transformative / Evolving Idea Generation
Idea Generation based on Principle Solution
Use of Models in Idea Generation

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 Introduction

How do You
What is Idea
Generate
Generation?
Ideas?

Is past Do I need to
experience be born
important? creative?

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 Overview of Creativity
Level of IQ

A systematic
An unstructured,
approach in
art-based approach
Engineering

Adaptive Creative

Innovation /Creativity Mapping

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 What is Idea Generation?
Idea Generation is a conscious activity to develop
potential solutions / alternatives for the earlier defined
design problems, stated in the Problem Definition

How do You Generate Ideas?

There several methods of Idea Generation, which
will be discussed. The choice is personal

Do I need to be born creative?

Everyone is creative in his own way. It is a matter of
discovering yourself and surfacing the creativity. Methods
will help
Is past experience important?
Past experience can be helpful, but can also be restrictive.
Developing a good understanding of the problem through
systematic information gathering and analysis is more
important

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 Overview of Creativity

WORKING METHOD A. Intuitive B. Systematic / Analytical

THINKING METHOD
Brain Morphology
1. Association Storming Checklists
Brain writing
Synectics Morphological Chart
2. Confrontation TILMAG-Method

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 AN EXAMPLE OF A CREATIVITY SESSION

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 How do you present ideas?
Example: Hospital Bed

The hospital bed must have four legs. Adjustment

is by remote control. When raised there is sufficient
Verbal space to handle the patient. Rollers should be
incorporated to move the bed easily, etc.

Visual
A picture says
a thousand
words

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 Iterative Divergent and Convergent Thinking

Track of
Designers
Attention

Solution

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 Design Problem
Divergent
Thinking

Many Alternatives and Many New Ideas

Convergent
Thinking
Selected Solution = New Problem
Divergent
Thinking

Many Alternatives and Many New Ideas

Convergent
Thinking
Improved Solution = New Problem

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 Methods of Idea Generation

The 4 basic methods, which will be discussed, are:

Field or topic driven idea generation

Problem driven idea generation
Idea generation based on principle solutions
Transformative / evolving idea generation

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 Topic Driven Idea Generation
Process Trees / Concept Program of
Requirements

Ergonomics Aesthetics Technology Marketability Ecology

IDEAS IDEAS IDEAS IDEAS IDEAS

Integrated Idea / Integrated Idea / Integrated Idea /

Concept 1 Concept 2 Concept 3

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 Example: KI Intellect Classroom Furniture
Ergonomic Driven Idea Generation

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 Example: KI Intellect Classroom Furniture
Ergonomic Driven Idea Generation

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 Example: Dail Torque Wrench

Form / Ergonomic Driven Idea Generation

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 Example: Dial Torque Wrench

Form / Ergonomic Driven Idea Generation

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 Problem & Process Driven Idea Generation
Process Trees

Detailed Problem Definition

Sub-Problem Sub-Problem Sub-Problem Sub-Problem Sub-Problem

A B C D E

IDEAS IDEAS IDEAS IDEAS IDEAS

Integrated Idea / Integrated Idea / Integrated Idea /

Concept 1 Concept 2 Concept 3

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 Example: KI Intellect Classroom Furniture
Clustering and nesting for transportation

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 Example: Barbecue
Configuration for number of people using it

Accessible for
many people
Foldable, Used for 4
persons sitting around

A narrow shape is
suitable for
preparing skewers.

A half circle provides easy

access when preparing

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 Example: Barbecue
If not foldable, then
Foldability and Transportability (sub-problem) easily to be moved
on wheels.
Legs and shield can be Sufficient
dismantled when not in compartment for
use and put inside the cutlery
basket

Rectangular
Form, easily
foldable

A barbecue in the
form of a suitcase;
easy to set up and
dismantle

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 Example: Shopping Trolley

Plastic provide
freedom in form,
but costly

Starting from a High based to overcome

conventional Trolley puddles, but unstable

When made out of plastic,

the container allows for
sandwiched cooling
elements A soft container
provides flexibility,
less costly

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 Example: Shopping Trolley

Section of the soft compartment can

have cooling elements sown in

Maneuverability enhanced by
having one wheel, but what about
stability when it gets heavy?

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 Managing Idea Development
Reflect Ideas against Problem Definition and Program
of Requirements
Make sure that ideas are targeted towards solving the
problems surfaced in the Problem Definition by meeting
the requirements .
Adjust requirements where necessary (if they are not
realistic).

REQUIREMENT IDEA

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 The following example shows the iterative relationship between
ideas and requirements:

Requirement: The retail price of the tropical shopping trolley

should not exceed S$15.00

IDEA: After much exploration, the most desired

method of keeping the purchased food fresh is
by incorporating pre-frozen cooling units.

Info: A set of cooling units costs S$13.00

Adjustment: The retail price of the tropical shopping trolley

should not exceed S$25.00

REQUIREMENT IDEA

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 Transformative / Evolving Idea Generation
Early Stage Idea IDEA 2 IDEA 3 IDEA 4 (More Developed)

IDEA 7A IDEA 6A
IDEA 8 IDEA 5
IDEA 7B IDEA 6B

Variation 9A CONCEPT 1
IDEA 9 (Well
Developed)
Variation 9B
CONCEPT 2
IDEA XX (Well Developed)

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 Example: Living Space: Furniture for Dynamic People
Tan Han Yang, Terence

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 Product Architecture Principle Solutions
Assignment of physical elements to the building block of the system
To increase product variety and flexibility
Lower manufacturing costs, while enhancing customisation

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 Principles leading to various designs

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 Water Reservoir
Heating Elements

Coffee container
Pressure Reservoir
Coffee cup

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 Idea Generation based on Principle Solutions

Principle
Solutions

Selected Principle
Solutions

Idea / concept

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 Example: Hair Dryer

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 CASE STUDY Principle Solutions: NEC Z1 Personal Computer

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 CASE STUDY Principle Solutions: NEC Z1 Personal Computer

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 The Morphological Chart Method

Morphological Chart for Bicycle 1

Feature Means
Frame Hardtail Full sub Racer Stunt Custom
made

Support wheels Carbon fiber Tube Rim Tubeless Aluminum

covered rim

Tires Cross country Road All condition

Method of Peddling Gasoline Electrical

Propulsion engine engine

Transmission Gears and Gears Wheels and Direct Flexible

chain belt cable

Cushion Hydraulic Spring Hydraulic

(air) fluid

Suspension Fork Stem Beam Rear Seat post Seat

suspension suspension suspension suspension suspension suspension
Handle bar Cross country Monkey Aero-
dynamic

Stopping Cantilever rim Cantilever Hydraulic rim Hydraulic Drum brake

disc disc

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 Monkey
handle bar

Gasoline
engine

Drum
brake Rear
suspension

Hydraulic
disc brake

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 Morphological Chart for Bicycle 2
Feature Means
Frame Hardtail Full sub Racer Stunt Custom
made

Support wheels Carbon fiber Tube Rim Tubeless Aluminium

covered rim

Tires Cross country Road All condition

Method of Manual Gasoline Electrical

Propulsion Peddling engine engine

Transmission Gears and Gears Wheels and Direct Flexible

chain belt cable

Cushion (air) Spring Hydraulic

fluid

Suspension Fork Stem Beam Rear Seat post Seat

suspension suspension suspension suspension suspension suspension
Handle bar Cross country Monkey Aero-
dynamic

Stopping Cantilever rim Cantilever Hydraulic rim Hydraulic Drum brake

disc disc

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 Cross country
handle bar

Cross
country
tires

Hydraulic
disc brake

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 An Ergonomic Approach towards Principle Solutions

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 Use of Models in Idea Generation
Foam / Sketch Models

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 Foam / Sketch Models

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Adaptation through Preliminary
Model Making

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Scenario & Problem-
Based Idea
Generation

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 Good Luck
with your
Assignment!

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