Class3_1 Today’s topics Inventing alternative designs Creative problem solving tips

You should have completed your problem statement and specifications by this time. If you have finished, well done! If you have not, you are probably procrastinating.

Questions about DP?

What you should be working on next Develop three alternative designs for your design project. Write one page for each alternative. Include a sketch of the concept and a list of strengths and weaknesses for each alternative.

Reminder… Please, use computers only for our classwork, only. Please turn off monitors now.

Quick review

Define the problem Specify product requirements Invent alternatives Evaluate the alternatives Engineer the details / analyze performance Test prototypes Report complete product description Model of the Design Process

Design process Design benefits from a rational process Design occurs in stages Design is iterative

Stage 1: Define the problem Before you start a design always think carefully about what is really the problem Context and constituency

Stage 2: Specifications 1. Describe what the design must accomplish, but not how. 2. Be as quantitative as possible; be as unambiguous as possible

Stage 3: Invent alternatives The next slide has the most important advice I can give you about being a better design engineer…

Stage 3: Invent alternatives Design rule-of-three: Always invent at least 3 alternative designs for any design or part of a design. For Monty Python fans, this rule can be stated as…

Thou shalt always invent 3 alternatives Thou shall not stop at 1 alternative Neither shall thou invent 2 alternatives unless proceeding to 3 alternatives

Example of alternative designs See example on next slides Notice format: sketch with a list of strengths and weaknesses (You will be asked to do this for your design report)

The design problem…

How to invent alternatives? Think… Use creative problem solving techniques Brainstorm Try a morphological chart

Inventing alternative concepts puts a premium on creativity! Let’s spend some time talking about creativity

Creative problem solving topics Why be creative? Why the smart kids aren’t as smart as they think they are. Nine tips for enhancing your creativity, with puzzle examples.

Why be creative? More satisfying, more productive Better solutions to life’s little problems Better solutions to life’s bigger problems Exercises a fundamental human passion

Smart = creative ? A highly intelligent person can construct a case for any point of view; excludes alternative considerations Verbal fluency is often mistaken for thinking; intelligent person substitutes Ego based on intellect causes person to need to always be right, clever, orthodox

Smart = creative ? Intelligence is used to be critical, rather than being open to new ideas Intelligent people tend to jump to conclusions Highly intelligent people tend to confuse understanding with quick thinking and slowness with being dull-witted.

Smart = creative ? Conclusion: Be creative, not intelligent ?? Don’t let your “smart ego” get in the way of being creative You do not need to be the smartest person in the room to be the most creative

Creativity enhancing tips Some illustrated by puzzles

First puzzle Using no more than 4 lines, pass though all the dots without lifting your pencil.

Creativity lesson Don’t artificially restrict the problem Don’t stop with the first idea! (Most important rule for design engineers)

Second puzzle One morning, exactly at sunrise, a Buddhist monk began to climb a tall mountain. A narrow path, no more than a foot wide, spiraled around the mountain to a temple at the summit. The monk ascended a varying rates of speed, stopping many times along the way to rest and eat dried fruit he carried with him. He reached the temple shortly before sunset. After several days of fasting and meditation, he began his journey back along the same path, starting at sunrise and again walking at variable speeds with pauses along the way. His average speed descending was, of course, greater than his average climbing speed. Prove that there is a point along the path that the monk will occupy on both trips at precisely the same time of day.

Creativity lesson Do use a variety of thinking “languages” (verbal, visual, mathematical, musical…) Do seek analogies, imagery, playfulness

A steel pipe is embedded in a concrete floor. Six people are trapped in the room. They want to extract the ping pong ball at the bottom of the pipe without damaging the ball. How can this be done? The room is bare except for a shelf that contains: 100’ rope Claw hammer Chisel Box of Wheaties File Coat hanger Pipe wrench Light bulb

Creativity lesson Don’t fear looking stupid or unconventional

Other creativity tips Do get as much information as is reasonably available.

“New information theorem” Adding one new piece of information greatly improves the chance of coming up with a creative solution.

Creativity tips, cont. Do let problems incubate Requires “charging” first!

Creativity tips, cont. Do withhold judgment Do assume that creativity can be enhanced with practice