Mind over matter

Mind over matter is an intriguing notion used in many contexts, from parapsychology to pain control and political ideology. In the context of design ideas, and the use of ideation tools, sketching on paper or digital tablet exemplifies how the human mind directs the moving of the pen; mind over sketching. But also the mind in the philosophical sense, as explained in the computational theory of the mind that uses some of the same principles as those found in digital computing. Interestingly, then, the notion of mind over matter would apply to the whole range of ideation tools, viz. words, skeching, modelling and computing. An example of this is Frank Gehry's designs for the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, in which the architect's ideas, inspired by the sculptor Richard Serra, were developed using a wide range of ideation tools, from casual sketches, crumpled paper and simple cardboard models to the most advanced computer software. In other words, Gehry's design, from first thoughts to final drawings were developed and communicated through conversations, physical sketching, model making and computing: Indeed without his office's 3D digital software, the museum, like many of Gehry's post-Bilbao ideas would never have become a practical proposal for a developer to build. Yet Gehry says the starting point is always inside his head; for him technology is a means, not an end. Indeed, mind over matter.

Ideation fitness

In the world of ideation, designers are increasingly employing digital strategies to generate, develop and communicate new ideas. And the designers who seem to achieve the most are those who bring the analogue and digital modes closer together, from casual sketching to computing. In doing so, designers not only want to show what they are capable of doing but also to communicate their level of ideation fitness. To increase their fitness level, they invest in both analogue and digital tool skills that enable them to response to the most challenging design tasks, often at short notice delivering to tight time frames and whether the deadlines are set by project briefs, design competitions or potential clients' enquiries. In fact, ideation workshops, or similar creative activities done on a fairly regular basis becomes ideation fitness excercises whereby designers improve their ideation skills in similar ways to people doing workouts to stay physically and mentally fit. Doodling, on paper or tablet or sketch modelling, then, are to ideation what squats or push-ups are to fitness.

Storytelling as ideation tool

Within the wide format of the ideation workshop, there is scope for using storytelling as a tool for generating and communicating ideas, both verbally and visually. This may be the case not least in dealing with collective issues of well-being, such as sustainability and climate change, issues which can be controversial and divisive often amounting to "wicked problems" where there is no single solution to the problem. The interactive mode of storytelling can be a particular effective tool for identifying and solving environmental issues because it allows for a diversity of voices drawing from a variety of sources. Moreover, ideation in the interactive narrative mode may not only help initiate and articulate new ideas in the eco design field but also provide different perspectives on interdependent local and global environmental issues thereby helping identify opportunities to address the climate change as well as stimulating imagination of future scenarios, actions and design solutions.

Sketching for 3D printing

Pen and paper sketching can be a standalone ideation tool but to take the idea further, say in the form of a 3D physical object the freehand sketch would have to be translated into a sketch model using a range of materials such as card, plastic, wood or clay. Alternatively, in the the digital era, the 2D pen and paper sketch would be converted into a 3D physical object using 3D printing, that is, the pen and paper sketch would be scanned or photographed, or produced on a digital drawing tablet, and imported into Photoshop, converted into a 3D digital model using CAD and then imported as an STL file to be dowloaded  for 3D printing using ABS filament plastics, the most used 3D printing material for models. How would the two ideation processes, that is, working in the analogue or digital mode respectively, compare in terms of tool skills or time consumed? Do the chosen ideation tools, analogue or digital, impact on the ideation process and if so, how? For example, do analogue ideation tools such as freehand sketching or physical sketch modelling afford more creative stimulation? Or, does the use of digital tools suggest a more linear ideation process with less scope or encouragement for iteration or improvisation? And what about hybrid ideation modes? Discuss.

Effective idea communication

If you have a great idea, but you are not able to communicate it clearly, your audience might not get it. Therefore idea communication is a key factor in the early stages of the design process. And whether using visual or verbal language, or a combination of both, the idea, like a proposal has to be represented, formatted and presented in such ways as to make a meaningful and convincing argument for the viewer/listener/reader. To achieve effective idea communication in the design field there are techniques that can be learned and applied. In fact, some of these techniques are commonly used in the writing process for an academic paper. These techniques include creating and structuring a logical flow of the content (key point and subpoints) and using words and images effectively and imaginatively in order to persuade and win over the audience.

Ideation workshop in the age of algorithms

Algorithm-driven design and ubiquitous social media may suggest that the process of ideation is changing. However, design ideation embraces new tools and mediums combining analogue, digital and hybrid production modes, from an arts-and-crafts approach to algorithm- and theory-based design, including research and development. Thus the ideation workshop continues to provide a flexible and stimulating learning environment which is conducive to speculation, conjecture and testing of ideas in a collaborative manner ending with group presentation and discussion. In this process, ideation tools are applied to their fullest potential for generating and communicating ideas, and whether the tools employed consist of narratives, hand craft techniques or computer hard- and software.

Front-loading ideation

The ideation workshop encourages and supports the brave and the curious valuing individuality that thrives on exploration and discovery rather than the need to prove. There is no fear of the clean slate. And whatever the means or mediums, drawn or made, analogue or digital, perceptual or conceptual. In fact, the unfinished is a constituent part of the ideation process focusing on invention, or re-invention, seeing the old with new eyes. Openness becomes open-endedness.

Pencil in, or ink in?

Semantics, or the study of meaning in language (single word or entire texts), can be quite telling. For example, the phrase "pencil in" denotes "to note or arrange provisionally or tentatively", whereas the saying "ink in" stands for "to confirm or arrange definitley". So which of these two expressions would best describe sketching as an ideation tool? Sketching means to draw something that is rough or unfinished, for example, a preliminary drawing*, which may suggest the pencil sketch is the tool for ideas. In contrast, to pen something, or "ink in" (using a ballpoint, felt-tip or fountain pen) indicates something more permanent, as in "to use ink to go over pencil lines in a drawing". Yet both the pencil and the pen are implements used for generating and communicating ideas, not only on paper but also for input on digital devices, such as tablet. What matters, then, is not so much what ideation tool to use but how best articulate first thoughts and ideas, that is, through words, sketching, modelling or computing, or "thinking aloud in sketch mode" irrespective of the tool. * Indeed, in the 17th century, "design" was identified in a professional context as "a preliminary sketch for a work of art: the plan of a building, or part of it."

Da Vinci - The Ideator

As the 500th anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci's death is commemorated this year, the artist’s notebooks are experiencing a renaissance of their own.  Although his paintings are far better known, Leonardo’s wealth of manuscripts and drawings lay bare the inner workings of his genius. His fertile mind—the range of hypotheses he tested, the intellectual, scientific, and philosophical journeys he launched, Leonardo’s subject matter soars into view: botany, geology, hydraulics, architecture, military engineering, costume design, geometry, cartography, optics, anatomy. He sketched to make sense of unknowns, probing the enigmas of the universe with ink, chalk, and silverpoint. Indeed, Leonardo was an ideator of the first order, and his notebooks reveal how much we still have to learn. Source: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2019/05/leonardo-da-vinci-artistic-brilliance-endures-500-years-after-death/

Pencil that!

Initially, design is all about the idea. And so, while the first thought or idea is still fresh, grab the pencil, jot the idea down, scribble, sketch it out! Sketching is the first step to materialise abstract thoughts. It's faster and easier to capture the idea with pen and paper because there is very little barrier between hand, eye and brain. True, you can skech using a tablet, and it may be a personal choice, but the immediacy (no interface) and tactile quality of pen and paper makes it still a favourite ideation medium among designers across disciplines.

Ideation guidelines

The ways designers go about ideation vary according to task, tools used, and experience. Yet in an attempt to describe ideation as a process one might apply the four steps, or the Double Diamond method based on the UK Design Council's simple way of mapping the design process*. The four steps - Discover, Define, Develop, and Deliver, when transferred to the ideation process may suggest the following guidelines: 1. Discovery stage, when a project space is created for generating and researching ideas (ideally a versatile studio space); 2. Definition stage, when the task or problem at hand is identfied and parameters set; 3. Development stage, when the range and number of generated ideas are reduced through filtering and refining resulting in, say three strong ideas; 4. Delivering stage, when the idea(s) are communicated effectively. Source: https://www.designcouncil.org.uk/news-opinion/design-methods-step-2-define

Slow Ideation

Idea generation is often thought of as a speedy activity or a pop-up phenomenon, as in the proverbial "Aha!" moment, or in sayings such as "in a flash" or "out of the blue". But ideation can also be akin to a  meditative thought process of "reflecting", "mulling over" or "ruminating". Or a process of "iteration", "fits and starts" or "incubation". Yet irrespective of fast or slow ideation modes, what matters most is to capture the first thought(s) in some shape or form that enables the idea to be developed and communicated effectively to the intended audience, be they team mates, clients or the public at large. And whether ideas travel in the fast lane or the slow lane, the ideation tools employed are not mutually exclusive, that is, pen and paper, for example, moves along with computing. In other words, analog and digital creative means co-habit the same ideation space.

AI as innovative partner

Artificial Intelligence, AI, as a branch of computing, can also be seen as an ideation tool for helping designers become more proficient in generating ideas for innovation. That is, using AI as a tool to help innovate rather than invent, to improve what already exists rather than creating from scratch. This is because while AI attempts at mirroring some of the qualities of the human mind, it is not capable of replacing the creative mind. Yet there are many iterative even mundane steps in the ideation process of generating, developing and communicating ideas. These steps, then, and to use an analogy - Thomas Edison, the inventor, claimed that 'Genius is one percent inspiration and 99 per cent perspiration', might be seen as "perspiration". AI, however, may be a source of inspiration too - not only by extending the range of ideas generated but also testing and prototyping ideas using, say 3D printing thereby making AI a meaningful and valuable innovative partner.