Design Lab Techniques that Lead to Creative and Innovative Solutions
We use a variety of techniques in a Design Lab™ that have been proven to increase the possibility of arriving at creative and innovative solutions to problems. Many of the techniques are used in the private sector but are not widely used in the public sector.
One of the primary techniques we use is encouraging both divergent and convergent thinking. Divergent thinking is a thought process and method used to generate creative ideas by exploring many, many possible solutions. Divergent thinking typically occurs in a spontaneous, free-flowing manner, so that many ideas are generated in a random, unorganized fashion. Many possible solutions are explored in a short amount of time, and unexpected connections are drawn. Following divergent thinking, ideas and information are organized and structured using convergent thinking. Convergent thinking follows a deliberate set of steps to arrive at a preferred solution.
Some of the many techniques that are used in a Design Lab are:
- Open-ended questions --- articulating questions so they open up the possibility of creative ideas emerging.
- Criteria development --- by defining needed outcomes final creative solutions are sure to address the problem, and criteria help define the assumptions and paradigms to be challenged in order to develop innovative ideas.
- Brainstorm techniques --- Many people use brainstorming but there are specific guidelines and techniques (using prompts, deferring judgment, generating many ideas, etc.) that greatly enhance the value of brainstorming.
- Skilled facilitation --- Facilitating a creativity session requires a set of skills that are not usually taught but are essential for encouraging creative thinking.
- Using visuals --- sketches, diagrams, mind maps and other non-verbal techniques can encourage creativity and/or understanding that can take ideas to the next level.
- Visual connections or metaphors ---Looking at visual images and identifying what connections may be drawn that relate to the problem can open up new thinking.
- Creative play --- By taking people out of their comfort zone through exploring play and improvisation new connections and ideas can emerge.
- Diversity --- diversity in background and ways of thinking and learning can benefit the creative process if employed intentionally.
- Creating concrete, useful ideas --- The work of creativity doesn’t stop at generating many, diverse, and interesting ideas. Shaping these ideas into workable solutions to real problems is part of the process as is experimenting with several ideas to choose the best.
|
