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Idea Generation and Development
Quick questions on Idea generation techniques explained: O-Level Design and Technology
5short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is brainstorming?Show answer
Brainstorming is rapidly listing as many ideas as possible without judging them. The rules are: aim for quantity, welcome wild ideas, do not criticise during the session, and build on others' suggestions. Judging comes later. The point is to get ideas out quickly before the critical mind shuts them down, so even unusual ideas are captured and may spark better ones.
What is mind mapping?Show answer
A mind map starts with the problem in the centre and branches out into related themes, features and ideas. It organises thinking visually and shows connections between ideas. A mind map is useful for exploring an area broadly: from "lamp", branches might run to light sources, materials, ways to switch, and ways to adjust, each branching further into specific ideas.
What is morphological analysis?Show answer
Morphological analysis is a structured way to force variety. The product is broken into its key features (for a lamp: light source, switching, base shape, adjustment method). For each feature, several options are listed. Combining one option from each feature produces a complete idea, and the many possible combinations generate ideas the designer would not have thought of directly.
What is sCAMPER?Show answer
SCAMPER is a checklist of prompts that transform an existing idea: Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify (or magnify/minify), Put to another use, Eliminate, and Reverse. Applying each prompt to a starting idea generates new versions: combine a lamp with a clock, eliminate the switch for a touch base, reverse the usual shape. SCAMPER is excellent for pushing past an obvious idea into fresh territory.
What are not annotating ideas?Show answer
Unlabelled sketches are hard to compare later. Annotate how each idea works and its key features.
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