Week 2: Challenge Activity - Ideation Techniques
The Task
Now we have explored a variety of techniques for helping to foster creativity and generate new ideas, let’s experiment with some of these ideation techniques.
Begin this activity by selecting one or more of the ideation techniques discussed this week, then apply them to the following challenge:
Choose an existing artefact that is the output of someone’s creativity. This could be a poem, short story, illustration, song or anything else you think is interesting.
Modify the artefact in some way using the techniques you selected. The aim is to remediate it into another form of the artefact.
The term ‘remediation’ is used here in the same way that Grusin and Bolter intended in their book, Remediation: Understanding New Media (2000). The term denotes a framework for “considering how all media constantly borrow from and refashion other media”, and this is exactly what we want you to do in this task.
As with all attempts to channel inner creativity, there are no rules for this exercise. Instead, you are encouraged to dive straight in and not think too hard about it. Select your initial artefact, blast through the ideation techniques to find ways to modify it and let the output happen organically. You might devise something that could be deemed a ‘success’ or it might be nonsensical and random (in our eyes this is equally a success). The point is not to aim for perfection and instead generate many ideas that could be improved upon if they show potential.
The Artefact: Welsh Love Poem - Framed art with mixed materials
The Process
SCAMPER is an acronym for substitute, combine, adapt, modify, put to other uses, eliminate and rearrange. It is a lateral thinking technique which challenges the status quo and helps you explore new possibilities (https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/article/learn-how-to-use-the-best-ideation-methods-scamper).
Substitute
Materials - I can swap the wood frame or woven material for other surfaces.
Meaning - I can substitute some of the words to make this more personal.
Processes - I can change some of the processes to create something new.
Shape - I can change the shape of this artefact - or at least the shape or colour of some of the components.
Feelings - I can substitute words in the poem to evoke a different feeling. So love becomes hate, togetherness becomes solitude.
Font - I can use a different font for the poem. I can also swap out some of the words in the poem for a graphic element that represents it.
Combine
I can combine the graphic elements into one layer of design. This will lower the cost, and will make it a graphic that can be applied to different mediums or objects.
Adapt
By thinking about the meaning behind the poem, the association of this as a gift from my partner, I can adapt this artefact using elements that come to mind.
I can adapt this into a family crest by adding initials, or graphic elements that represent myself and my partner.
Modify
I can modify this to become a graphic that can be applied to different mediums.
I can scale this graphic so it can be applied to different sized items.
I can reduce the poem to a single sentence or two.
I can translate this into a different language.
I could modify this so instead of a framed piece of art, it could be a wall hanging with different fixtures.
I could use the shape of the woven fabric to create a new shape that can be applied as a motif.
Put to other uses
I can use this finished artefact as a graphic element on homewares. It can also be made into another wall hanging using different techniques - such as cut out.
At the moment there Is only one way to use the product in its current form, but if reworked it can be used in multiple forms.
Eliminate
I can simplify the poem but still retain the feelings it invokes.
I can eliminate the materials used to create a graphic design - this can then be applied back to different materials/producs.
Rearrange
I can rearrange the layout but still retain the feelings it invokes.
The Result
Reflection
I was surprised by how challenging I found this activity. I found the SCAMPER brainstorming activity incredibly useful and it really enabled me to think laterally about the problem, and what options or remedies were available. However, I don’t feel satisfied with the final result, and found myself making multiple adjustments.
I decided to focus mainly on substituting elements of the original artefact, swapping them for alternatives. I swapped the main materials, shapes, fonts, application. I adapted this by adding some elements such as initials, as well as some graphic elements such as the flowers to make this a more personal artefact.
I do feel quite enlightened by the process of applying creative thinking using proven ideation techniques. I am a very visual person and I am used to rushing straight in with designs. This is an area where I really want to develop my skills.