ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses a number of procedures that will aid the design team to develop a wide range of solutions to the design problem being considered. There are a number of proven techniques that help the designer to ‘think outside the box’ and come up with some inspiring and surprising ideas. These include the following: inversion, analogy, empathy, fantasy, brainstorming, mindmaps, SCAMPER and TRIZ. Fantasy is make-believe and involves dreaming of some fanciful solutions. Brainstorming was originally developed by Madison Avenue advertising executive Alex Osborn in his 1953 book ‘Applied Imagination’. Group brainstorming sessions are more effective for solving complex problems by taking advantage of the wider diversity of experiences from other group members, particularly where the members come from a wider range of disciplines. The impact of the financial status of the company depends on how much start-up capital will be needed, sources of capital and returns on investment.
