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The goal of the puzzle is to link all 9 dots using four straight lines or less, without lifting the pen and without tracing the same line more than once.

Sometimes to solve a problem we need to remove a mental (and unnecessary) constriction.

Remove the assumption we initially imposed on ourselves (the lines must be straight, the lines must be drawn inside a ‘subjective’ square, etc.).

In fact, mental constrictions always limit our creativity and stop us solving everyday problems.

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.

Albert Einstein

When designing solutions to design problems you must remove all assumption you have of what is expected, especially the obvious. For Example:

• Does a chair always need four legs?
• Does a lamp need a light bulb?
• Does a fireplace always have to give out heat?
• Do clothes always have to be made from fabric?
• Does ice cream always have to be a sweet dessert?

NO!

If you can understand that the answer to these types of questions is always NO then you are well on the way to being able to design creative and innovative alternative solutions (“think outside the box”).

Divergent Thinking is a thought process or method used to generate creative ideas by exploring many possible solutions as possible no matter how weird or wacky.

Divergent Thinking leads to creativity.

• It is: The ability to see lots of different answers.
• The ability to see lots of ways to interpret a question.
• The ability to “think outside the box.”
• How can we do this when designing?
• Firstly we can look at the task or question and try to interpret it differently.
• Don’t set out to try and come up with the one obvious answer.

Divergent Thinking

In 2011 a competition was run to update the countries electricity pylons which have remained largely unchanged since the 1920’s.

Competitors came from a variety of fields from engineers, architects, students and a range of design professions.

• Do pylons have to look the way that they do?
• Can you re-design them to become more aesthetically pleasing or sculptural?
• What other features could you possibly redesign or improve or add on.
• Hover over the images opposite to see the ideas other designers and engineers came up with!

Pylon Design

How to use divergent thinking

Specialized are a leading bike supplier in the UK. They have asked their design team to come up a range of ideas that will revolutionise the bike market. They want their design team to come up with a brand new design for a bike never seen in the UK market before.

Non Assuming Mind map

Draw two rectangles one inside the other

Draw a quick sketch of the product or the problem you have chosen to design or solve

Write down the first four assumptions that come into your head regarding the product

Mind-map as many different alternatives you can to the assumptions you have made

This is just one method to developing your thinking skills to solve everyday problems.

This type of philosophy has driven in the last year the British cycling team to unparalleled success at the London 2012 Olympics.

A long-term technical research project lead by British Cycling has laid the groundwork for the country's stunning success in the sport over the past decade. In the past two Olympics, Team GB has won a stunning 18 medals in cycling. Bradley Wiggins became the first British rider to win the Tour de France, and Cavendish won the World Championship road race last year.

The Research and development effort for British Cycling in Manchester is jokingly known as "The Secret Squirrel Club."  the Secret Squirrel Club, has poached aerodynamics experts from BAE Systems and Formula One who all beaver away in a Southampton wind-tunnel. As the rider is the most aerodynamically challenged part of the package, Sir Chris Hoy has spent many eight-hour days in there too. Bikes are custom-built for the team; even the handles are moulded to riders’ hands

The squad wear battery-powered “hot pants” to warm up their muscles before racing. Have there own pillow when they are away and training in different places and have a specific method of cleaning their hands every time they wash them. Divergent thinking?

Plenary

Apple have asked their designers to come up with concept ideas for a new mobile phone. They wish to produce a phone which will revolutionise the mobile phone market like the IPhone did. The ideas can be concepts and be as wacky as you like, the technology may not yet exist for your phone, but it may have the potential to be developed.

Design Task

Aircraft design of the future divergent thinking.

Watch the videos of how designers today are tackling issues such as airport overcrowding, environmental issues regarding air transportation and the ideas they have to tackle these issues.