IDEA GENERATION TECHNIQUE-Brainstorming

     Brainstorming is one of best and easiest technique for idea generation.it is a group ideation  technique and it can be applied to any situation where quick and collaborative problem solving is required.In typical   Group consist : leader plus 5-15 members from diverse fields. 

           Leader: first outlines the problem, invites ideas from members. (S)he never leads in the expression of ideas. (S)he sees that the rules are observed and a free and easy atmosphere prevails 

            Procedure: The ideas are displayed, listed and passed on to members for further suggestions, if any. Then they are submitted for evaluation to another group of experts. The whole session up to 45 minutes

           Rules to be observed during the session:

•         Members must shed their inhibitions: avoid rejecting ideas as absurd, stupid, embarrassing or false

•         Members must not criticize ideas generated (killer phrases forbidden)

•         Members encouraged to freely change, develop further or combine other ideas

•         All ideas to be recorded and displayed, and practicality of ideas is ignored

•         The wilder the idea, the better it is (easier to tone down wilder ideas than to improve mediocre ideas)

                   A case study 

                  problem statement- To separate spoiled egg and good egg from mixes

                                                  quickly & automatically

•         We separate them by colour. A colour meter ought to be practical

•         Emissivity or reflectivity – green one ought to have a higher reflectivity

•         Hardness. We squeeze them – easy – or poke them

•         Electrical conductivity

•         Electrical resistance

•         Magnetism!

•         Size. Won’t the spoiled ones be smaller?

•         Weight. The good ones will be heavier

•         Size and weight together ought to correlate

•         Size and weight is density

•         Specific volume They must be mostly water –

•         and have the specific volume of water

•         Do they float or sink?

•         May be that’s it – separate them by density –

•         by whether they float or sink in water

•         Would not have to be water – could be anything

•         Non toxic

•         Saltwater

•         X-Ray – , or something like that

•         Odour, smell

•         Sound – can you hear a tomato?

•             Can egg hear?

•             Heat – infrared radiation

•             Thermal conductivity

•             Specific heat

•             Ability of a juggler to juggle them

•             Just let a woman look at them – push a   button

•             Statistically – check only every other one

•             Just shake  – spoiled ones makes noise

•             Blow air through as you shake

•             Use random numbers – let 3’s and 7’s be spoiled egg

•

Design exploration leads towards ideal solution

Typical design scenario there is kind of product specification which need to be addressed in form of various concepts. Each concept is evaluated in terms of various design criteria which satisfy initial product specification set. Often during NPD process people tend to forget there initial product specification and carried away by concept flow.Thus need of concrete problem statement arises, stating problem correctly is 50% job done.
while design exploration you need to play around your requirement and based on criteria you choose your solution. this are some of example sheet of design exploration of consumer electronics.
                        


                               

IDEA GENERATION TECHNIQUE- Morphological chart

Technique is structured approach to concept generation to widen the area of search for solutions to a defined design problem. Can help the team generate a complete range of alternative design solutions for a product through a systematic analysis of the form/configuration that a product or machine might take.
A morphological chart is a visual way to capture the necessary product functionality and explore alternative means and combinations of achieving that functionality. For each element of product function, there may be a number of possible solutions. The chart enables these solutions to be expressed and provides a structure for considering alternative combinations. This can enable the early consideration of the product 'architecture' through the generation and consideration of different combinations of 'sub-solutions' that have not previously been identified. Used appropriately, it can help to encourage a user driven approach to the generation of potential solution.\

METHOD

• List product functions.
• List the possible 'means' for each function.
• Chart functions and means & explore combinations

Chart gives various no. of alternative solution for the problem. choose each alternative evaluate them on

 your design criteria. and now you have got the pefect solution.