A.Weiss et al. (2015) ‘The Ideality WHAT Model for Product Design’. E&PDE 2015, 17th International Conference on Engineering and Product Design Education, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK.
Innovative Areas: Development of a Design Thinking tool, utilizing Biomimetic Principles and driven by TRIZ ideality strategies
Abstarct:
This article presents an innovative design model for both designers and engineers that can serve as a crucial compass during the formulation of a Product Design brief. The model was developed in order to bridge the gap that exists between the quest for sustainable design and the limitations of traditional briefs by focusing on the analysis level of the “WHAT” in order to enhance the “HOW” hands-on output. The model is based on the TRIZ ideality concept and the Bio-mimicry approach, incorporating sustainability principles inspired by nature. This design model directs designers and engineers through complex planning challenges, including the demand for sustainable processes and materials, novel attributes, efficiency, functionality and lower costs. Mechanical engineers and product designers that utilize this model achieve interactive strategic thinking that can balance the main planning stages of product functionality, such as manufacturing, advanced materials, logistics processes, marketing demands and related costs. This article presents and expands upon the theoretical basis of the model and also discusses its practical contribution through a case study conducted in an academic classroom experiment with students in a program for Mechanical Engineering and Product Design.
Keywords: Increasing benefits, efficiency, sustainability, TRIZ, Bio-mimicry, Bio-inspiration, ideality, product design
A.Weiss et al. (2016) ‘What Ideality Tool’ (WIT) for Product Design Brief Fusion and Confluence in Design Management. International Conference NordDesign16, NTNU University Trondheim, Norway.
Innovative Areas: : Development of a Design Thinking tool, utilizing Biomimetic Principles and driven by TRIZ ideality strategies
Abstarct:
This article presents the key advantages of using an innovative automated Design Thinking Tool for enhancing the value of sustainable design management. The tool is intended for product designers (PDs) who seek to foster sustainability in the ideation and formulation stage of product design brief. WIT was developed to comply with PDs’ needs and new role definition, targeting to bridge existing gaps between sustainability and the traditional business approach. It assists in current design challenges within the limitations of traditional briefs, establishing a shared lexicon and offering a solution for tackling “design fixation” and overcoming the “Design Paradox”, wherein the more experience a designer has, the less ideation flow there is and the less flexible his or her design approach becomes. Due to designers’ tendency to skip the stage of idea expansion (the “WHAT”) and rush into a specific design solution (the “HOW”), the author offers a solution for focusing on the “WHAT” analysis level in order to enhance the “HOW”. The WIT is based on the TRIZ ideality concept designed according to nature’s Ideal strategies and it serves as a method for creating a more extensive pool of sustainable concepts. This article presents practical contributions through qualitative research evaluation, conducted with experienced PDs as subjects.
Keywords: : design process, creativity, checklist, ideality, biomimetic
A.Weiss et al. (2017) ‘What Ideality Tool’ (WIT) for Product Design Briefs Transitioning from a Static Flowchart to a Dynamic Automation Tool. International Conference ICoRD ’17, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, India.
Innovative Areas: Development of a Design Thinking tool, utilizing Biomimetic Principles and driven by TRIZ ideality strategies
Abstarct:
This paper discusses the relationship between the ‘WHAT’ and ‘HOW’ concepts in the design process through the innovative ‘What Ideality Tool’ (‘WIT’). The abstract tool draws on nature ideality principles, crossing from the traditional static flowchart model to a dynamic automation tool, promoting design procedures by focusing on the ‘WHAT’ as a creative engine, instead of skipping ahead to the ‘HOW’. Many product designers rush into a design solution without thorough analysis of a product’s intended purpose. Applying ‘WIT’ in the ideation stage to create the designer brief serves as a preemptive tool for handling cognitive obstacles; this result in the paradox wherein the more experienced a designer is, the less flexible the design approach becomes. Hence, their range of ideas essentially becomes their ‘fixed design style’. The ‘WIT’ approach enriches designers’ mindset abilities, expanding the creativity flow by exposing distant connections, and promoting sustainable attributes necessary in today’s market.
Keywords: design methods, design thinking, product design, bio-mimetics, design process paradox
