Old & new tech

In an increasingly digitised world, where we can do things with the latest software and hardware that simply would be impossible to do 20 years ago, analogue technologies such as traditional 35 mm film making techniques, fax machines, metal audio tapes, and vinyl records refuse to go. It seems, in a creative context, where eclectic and personal work matters more than rational tech updates, the skilful use of old technologies still makes sense.

Free-form sketching

Before computers, designs were drawn by hand on paper, from first ideas and concepts to revisions and final drawings. For formal drawing various drafting tools were being used. For example, rulers were used for straight lines, compasses or templates for circles, protractors for angles, and french curves or flexible curves for curvatures. Today software, including tablet computers support both sketching and drafting activities. What matters, it seems, is that software tools can be used for ideation purposes as long as the tools have similar availability to that of pen and paper for free-form sketching.

Neat, or not so tidy?

Drawing for design conjures up visuals that are neatly shaped, controlled and made in a satisfying way, with a particular audience in mind, and perhaps even more so in the digital mode, whereas sketching, in the context of ideation, is closer to everyday life; a bit rough, awkward even, and does not come to tidy conclusions.

Idea sketch advantage

The idea sketch is not so much a predictive tool, of what is to come, but rather a tool for keeping track of ideas, which can be fast moving, ambiguous or volatile. Although designer sketches are commonly annotated, the idea sketch is essentially a pictorial expression of an idea, as words alone rarely convey design ideas, or fully capture the intent of the designer. Moreover, in recording ideas through sketching the designer gains a better understanding of the task in hand, which in turn help progress the idea towards realisation.

Idea accelerator

What transforms a bright idea into an innovative product or service? First, however, the great idea has to be represented and presented in a clear, convincing and exciting way in order to be recognised and accepted as such, and whether by a single client or a mass audience. For this ideators need tools to shape, form and communicate their ideas. Practising ideation tools, such as words, sketching and modelling, then makes sense in order to accelerate ideas from first thought to realised innovation, while at the same time building ideation confidence.

Practising ideation tools?

The old adage “practice makes perfect” has been applied to many kinds of learning, from drawing and creative writing to music and sports. But although research has shown there is a positive relationship between deliberate practice and mastery, practice on its own does not make perfect, and only accounts for a small amount of the variation in skill level (other important factors are innate talent, and working memory capacity). For example, practice accounted for only about one-third of the differences in skill in both music and chess. Or, in video games, the way a person practises is as important as how often they try to improve - with those who do not cram in sessions but go away and reflect on their mistakes performing better. This suggest that designers should not just practise a range of ideation tools, say, sketching, but reflect on their tool practice: Why sketching?

Abstract ideas

Ideas can be either abstract, visual, or concrete, and the type of idea may influence the choice of ideation tools. For example, abstracts ideas are first thoughts that can be interpreted in multiple ways, and therefore need to be visualized, as they cannot be illustrated through concrete (real) examples. This suggests that for abstract ideas, ideation starts with words or sketches, or a combination of both.

Just Do It ... Now

Procrastination is the enemy of ideation. To beat procrastination try this approach: 1. Close your eyes and visualise your idea picturing yourself realising the idea successfully. 2. In the face of immediate challenges, focus on the creative task at hand avoiding interruptions, including social media distractions. 3. Don't over-think an idea or sit around waiting for large, unbroken, smooth slabs of time on which to get started. Instead, trust your intuition and make do with more temporary, makeshift, rough-and-ready surfaces. Or simply go for a walk to get a fresh perspective or new ideas. Indeed, ideation is situated in many places.

Drawing the idea

Drawing is a powerful ideation tool that projects the form to come, that is, the visualisation of the ideated thing or the idea of the thing - the form. Indeed, drawing is a formative force (formation, reformation, and transformation), and its essence lies in the determinate thought and gestural mode of expressing an idea. Or, in the words of Henri Matisse, 'To draw is to outline an idea. The drawing is the clarification of thought.'

Just a minute!

Generating ideas tend to be a fast moving activity. But what about the development and communication of ideas? Can ideas be squeezed into just a minute, and presented in, say video format? Richard Wiseman, a professor of psychology, says he rarely finds it difficult to squeeze ideas - all of which are backed up by research and developed from his book chapters - into under a minute video. Using YouTube he believes shorter videos are the future of the medium: 'Conventional TV could spend 30 minutes on each of these items but not actually give you any more information. With any creative project, the more restrictions you put on it the more creative you are. With this you just have to be really good at scripting and cut down to the bare bones.'

Play it, Einstein

In his biography of Einstein, Walter Isaacson writes that Einstein often turned to his violin when challenged in his work: 'He would often play the violin in his kitchen late at night, improvising melodies while he pondered complex problems. Then suddenly, in the middle of the playing he would announce excitedly, "I've got it!" As if by inspiration, the answer to the problem would have come to him in the midst of the music'. This suggest that Einstein's mental processing power relied on the dynamic nature of intelligence, or how intelligence is expressed in many different forms, such as analytical, creative or emotional intelligence, or combinations thereof.

Nulla Dies Sine Linea

"No Day Without a Line," is traditionally attributed to the Hellenistic Greek painter Apelles (4th century B.C.E.) by the historian Pliny the Elder, who recorded that Apelles would not let a day pass without at least drawing a line to practice his art. Practising every day, Appelles is said to have attached great value to the drawing of outlines, and the simplicity of design. Moreover, and in the context of ideation, making a start with a line can help develop the idea. In this sense, line drawing becomes a vital part of the creative process, and sketching an ideation tool. As Plato once wrote, "The beginning is the most important part of the work." Or, in the beginning was the line.

Analogue and Digital

Despite digitisation, analogue and physical interaction remain the bedrock for ideation. Indeed pixels and paper are different technologies suited to different tasks in the design process. For example, the analogue mode offers less distraction than screen use. And pen and paper are less mentally tiring and, through its immediacy, easier to navigate and to understand.