Jot it down

Across creative fields, and irrespective of the expressive medium, the challenge is the same: How to capture ideas? Eric Satie, the French composer, for example, was observed stopping to jot down ideas by the light of the street lamps he passed.

On-the-road ideator

Designers traditionally ideate with pen in hand using sketchbooks, notebooks, whiteboards, even drawing on napkins. That said, the processing, storage, editing, and communication benefits of computers ensure that designers also work on screen at the conceptual stages of the design process. Moreover, the hardware and software of digital drawing have evolved enough to be useful for on-the-road ideators. For example, smartphones controlled by multi-touch display now allow spontaneous on-screen sketching turning smartphones into ideation tools for out-and-about designers.

Communicate and share ideas

You can have all the ideas in the world in your head but to make them happen you need to visualise or write the ideas down and communicate them to others. Because having the idea is just the first step to making that idea happen, and ideas are seldom accomplished alone. Sharing your ideas liberally not only gives you feedback but can help you realise the idea.

Making it happen

Ideation, unlike "brainstorming" (which is jumping from one idea to another while developing none), is more than coming up with ideas. It is as much about fine-tuning and communicating the idea in preparation for action to realise the idea.

Ideas for apples

If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas. GEORGE BERNARD SHAW (1856-1950)

Ideation language

Introducing the ideation workshop to design students in Singapore, the outcomes confirmed the importance of language when ideating. The dominant conceptual tool for getting started across 3-dimensional design disciplines (interior/furniture/exhibition/jewellery design) was words (written and spoken, including mind-mapping) which in turn triggered sketching (pen & paper), physical sketch modelling (using card, plastics, wire etc), and computing (multimedia/CAD), as single ideation tool or in combinations.

Ever ready tools

Tool-up for big ideas! A sharp mind needs sharp and ready tools. And to capture constructive daydreaming needs ever ready tools too.

Ideation "on-the-go"

Computers, mobile phones and handheld gadgets make up 58% of 16- to 24-year olds' media diet, according to Ofcom, the UK communications regulator. This age group is particularly adept at "simultaneous" media consumption. They cram nine and a half hours worth of media into six and a half hours of actual time. This represents a growing trend in media consumption "on-the-go". How will this trend impact the use of ideation tools? Or is the use of a range of ideation tools already a kind of simultaneous media consumption?

Idea presentation

Successful idea presentation depends on skills and preparedness similar to, say, the Cambridge University admission interview: 'How well a candidate can explain what they know, and whether they can apply their knowledge to a new problem or argue their position'.

Ideation is interplay of images and words

Design is often thought of as a visual activity. But while visual tools are necessary for ideation, the ability to put ideas into clear words is important too, notably when presenting.

Futuring ideas

Ideation is the key for better designs to come. Let ideas unlock the door!

Ideas shine

Design is often referred to as a problem-solving activity. Ideation, however, is also about opportunity: seize the chance to shine!

Delightful ideation

In ideation order and disorder come very close. But is ideation biased towards order and therefore primarily an intellectual activity? If so, does ideation offer more intellectual than emotional excitement? Or does ideation constitute a primeval experience of both intellectual and emotional delight? To find out, record or trace your ideation experience!