HCDE 210: Ideation Sprint

What we did

In this week’s sprint, we explore the process of ideation through sketching in different themes. For the first theme, “On Vacation”, I came up with 10 sketches of scenarios within 10 minutes. Instead of coming up with a product straight away, I came up with situations to allow the space for the development of ideas later on in design processes. Additionally, by coming up with the situation I could potentially find a problem to design a product for, rather than designing the product to be marketed. Then, in the second theme, “Trash related”, we used the diverging and converging technique in the ideation process. For the first 10 sketches, I sketched a ‘diverging’ ideas of using drones to pick up a trash. This idea may seem impossible, but during this stage, we deferred our judgment. I then evaluate my 10 ideas, then choose 1 to develop further in the second 10 ‘converging’ sketches. For the converging sketches, I sketched the idea of using sewer as trash delivery system. I chose this idea because of the feasibility compared to other ideas and the potential it has for development.

What I Have Learned.

It is normal for me, or for us designers, to be blank when brainstorming. However, the strategy of modifying, magnifying, minimizing, substitution, rearranging, and combining helps me to break away from ,basically, sitting still. For instance, I use my knowledge of existing Dyson cyclone technology, and combine it with the idea of cyclone juicer. Sometimes, I find it hard to move on to new ideas, when I have an idea that has a potential to be develop. I would dive into it and jot down I thought of and clear my head for the next one. On the other hand, when I feel the idea is bad, it is so tempting to rub it out, but by rubbing it out would mean I am deferring judgment. I like the statement made by the teacher, who said we don’t rub out ideas because it can tell what is bad about it.

How did you choose your "most promising" sketch?
Which variables did you consider?

One of the factors contributing to choosing my “most promising” sketch is being able to see that the idea could be developed in different ways and my excitement to dig in and explore its potential. Such as the wireless table, where I am able to design the appliances along with it. However, as I go through the design process, the factors such as cost, material, feasibility, safety, and user factor comes in and narrow down to the best idea. The best idea, to me, is the one that balances out each of design factors. Whereas, the “most promising” sketch is the one with the potential to be expanded and developed further.