Concept generation techniques can help to support designers in generating multiple ideas during design tasks. However, differences in the ways these techniques guide idea generation are not well understood. This study investigated the qualities of concepts generated by beginning engineering designers using one of three different idea generation techniques. Working individually on an open-ended engineering design problem, 102 first year engineering students learned and applied one of three different ideation techniques—design heuristics, morphological analysis, or individual brainstorming (using brainstorming rules to generate ideas working alone)—to a given design problem. Using the consensual assessment technique, all concepts were rated for creativity, elaboration, and practicality, and all participants' concept sets were rated for quantity and diversity. The simplest technique, individual brainstorming, led to the most concepts within the short (25 minute) ideation session. All three techniques produced creative concepts averaging near the scale midpoint. The elaboration of the concepts was significantly higher with design heuristics and morphological analysis techniques, and the practicality was significantly higher using design heuristics. Controlling for number of concepts generated, there were no significant differences in diversity of solution sets across groups. These results demonstrate that the use of design heuristics does not limit the creativity of ideation outcomes, and helps students to develop more elaborate and practical ideas. Design heuristics show advantages in the initial idea generation phase for beginning engineering students. These findings point to specific strengths in different ideation techniques, and the value of exposing beginning designers to multiple techniques for idea generation.
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October 2016
Research-Article
Comparing Ideation Techniques for Beginning Designers
Shanna R. Daly,
Shanna R. Daly
Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering,
University of Michigan,
2350 Hayward Avenue,
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
e-mail: srdaly@umich.edu
Mechanical Engineering,
University of Michigan,
2350 Hayward Avenue,
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
e-mail: srdaly@umich.edu
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Colleen M. Seifert,
Colleen M. Seifert
Professor
Department of Psychology,
University of Michigan,
530 Church Street,
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
e-mail: seifert@umich.edu
Department of Psychology,
University of Michigan,
530 Church Street,
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
e-mail: seifert@umich.edu
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Seda Yilmaz,
Seda Yilmaz
Associate Professor
Department of Industrial Design,
Iowa State University,
146 College of Design,
Ames, IA 50011
e-mail: seda@iastate.edu
Department of Industrial Design,
Iowa State University,
146 College of Design,
Ames, IA 50011
e-mail: seda@iastate.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Richard Gonzalez
Richard Gonzalez
Professor
Department of Psychology,
University of Michigan,
530 Church Street,
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
e-mail: gonzo@umich.edu
Department of Psychology,
University of Michigan,
530 Church Street,
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
e-mail: gonzo@umich.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Shanna R. Daly
Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering,
University of Michigan,
2350 Hayward Avenue,
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
e-mail: srdaly@umich.edu
Mechanical Engineering,
University of Michigan,
2350 Hayward Avenue,
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
e-mail: srdaly@umich.edu
Colleen M. Seifert
Professor
Department of Psychology,
University of Michigan,
530 Church Street,
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
e-mail: seifert@umich.edu
Department of Psychology,
University of Michigan,
530 Church Street,
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
e-mail: seifert@umich.edu
Seda Yilmaz
Associate Professor
Department of Industrial Design,
Iowa State University,
146 College of Design,
Ames, IA 50011
e-mail: seda@iastate.edu
Department of Industrial Design,
Iowa State University,
146 College of Design,
Ames, IA 50011
e-mail: seda@iastate.edu
Richard Gonzalez
Professor
Department of Psychology,
University of Michigan,
530 Church Street,
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
e-mail: gonzo@umich.edu
Department of Psychology,
University of Michigan,
530 Church Street,
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
e-mail: gonzo@umich.edu
Contributed by the Design Theory and Methodology Committee of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL DESIGN. Manuscript received January 25, 2016; final manuscript received June 1, 2016; published online August 30, 2016. Assoc. Editor: Julie Linsey.
J. Mech. Des. Oct 2016, 138(10): 101108 (12 pages)
Published Online: August 30, 2016
Article history
Received:
January 25, 2016
Revised:
June 1, 2016
Citation
Daly, S. R., Seifert, C. M., Yilmaz, S., and Gonzalez, R. (August 30, 2016). "Comparing Ideation Techniques for Beginning Designers." ASME. J. Mech. Des. October 2016; 138(10): 101108. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4034087
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