Ideation workshop: May 2016

Monday 9 May 2016

Tools of imagination

Of the many tools available to help generate, represent and communicate ideas, drawing tools, analogue or digital, are what foremost spring to mind. Yet in the digital age, computational ideation is pushing the limits of what might be designed, in "what-if" scenarios that free the imagination of physical constraints. In this, ideation tools move beyond CAD towards new methods and technologies for search and exploration of new forms using information modelling software ("ideas as data") and digital fabrication. Digital tools, then, extend traditional approaches of trial-and-error, bricolage and experimentation so intrinsic to design ideation.

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Welcome

This blog is for ideators engaged in architecture, art, and design.

An idea was needed, well thought out, clearly presented.

Le Corbusier

Also:

https://design-ideation.blogspot.com

https://twitter.com/DesignIdeation

IDEATION WORKSHOP

LEARNING OBJECTIVE: To raise awareness of design ideation* and provide participants with an opportunity to reflect on their own design practice through the use of ideation tools**.

FORMAT: Self-directed, hands-on studio activity where participants work alone or collaboratively, in pairs within the group. The workshop is informal but rigorous, non-judgmental but constructive and ends with ideas presentation to the whole group (plenary).

THEME: Each workshop has an ideation theme or task agreed beforehand. Themes can relate to place, function, artefact, or narrative, and be either common, universal or specific.

IDEATION PROTOCOL: The workshop has an optional research component whereby participants keep track of their ideation process using a protocol specifically designed for the workshop ("Reflection-in-action").***

WORKSHOP RESOURCES: Participants should have open access to wifi and facilities for making "stuff", including simple crafting tools and scrap materials.

LEARNING OUTCOME: Participants gain greater awareness of design ideation and the role of ideation tools in their own creative practice ("learning by doing"). The Ideation protocol acts as a self-diagnostic tool ("Reflection-on-action").

TIMESCALE: Each workshop lasts 3-4 hours (morning or afternoon session) or, alternatively, a full working day.

PARTICIPANTS: The workshop is suitable for design students (all levels) and practitioners alike. Group size: 6-12. The workshop language is English.

CONTACT: To participate, please contact Ben at studio.ben.jonson@gmail.com

* Design ideation is seen as a matter of generating, developing and communicating ideas, where 'idea' is understood as a basic element of thought that can be either visual, concrete or abstract. It is a purposeful activity (in the sense that a design is of practical service) that goes beyond the randomness of "brainstorming", but stops short of evaluating ideas per se. Idea development means moving from the general to the particular of the idea (through filtering and refining), and idea communication means the need for ideas to be externalised, or nobody else would know about them.

** Ideation tools are design tools which are purposefully used to help generate, develop and communicate ideas and include freehand drawing (sketches), words (spoken and written), sketch modelling (physical models), and computing (2D/3D software and AI technologies).

*** The workshop can be a vehicle for research in and of itself.

Monday 9 May 2016

Tools of imagination

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