Revelations in Observations

My son was taking a design class in college and had to think up and report on a possible new consumer product every week.  Part of the process was researching the idea to make sure someone else hadn't already thought of it and produced it.  We were having a brainstorming session for ideas and I suggested we start with problems in everyday life.  We listed a page full of issues and then addressed each one individually to see if we could imagine a solution - however outrageous the idea might be.  One concern of mine (other professional sunbathers can relate to) wants to stay in the warmth of the sun as we float about the pool in the lounger or down the Guadalupe River in Texas on inner tubes.  This is especially important at the beginning or end of the summer when the air and water are a little cool - according to Texan standards (my Michigan blood has thinned!).  My son came up with a Sun Catcher - a device that would automatically move your lounger or inner tube into the sun (or to the shade if you are trying to avoid the sun).  A great solution to the problem.  Our list of problems provided him with fertile ground for future project analyses.

During Monday night football station breaks a Ford Escape commercial caught my eye.  The ad showed people with their hands full using their feet to open doors.  Ford had observed the way we behave and designed a feature on the Escape vehicle to solve the problem - a hatchback that opened using your foot to activate it.

Next time you are stuck for new ideas - look at the way people do things - and see if that helps your creative thinking. 

Pass the Problems

I was speaking at a joint meeting of two professional societies on the subject of Creativity.  The boisterous crowd was enjoying the subject and the group participation activities.  I invited each participant to take a sheet of paper and write down a problem they were having at work, providing enough information so that a person reading it would understand the issue.  They were seated at round tables.  When all the pens were down, I asked them to pass their problem one person to the right. They were to read their neighbor's problem and write down their advice, reactions or comments.  I only gave them one minute to respond.  At the end of the one minute, I asked them to pass the problem one person to the right and begin writing again.  As the problems circled the table you could hear giggles and see smiles as people read the comments of the writers before them.  I continued the timing process until the problems made their way completely around each table, providing everyone with the chance to respond to all of their tablemates' problems.  When their problem came back to them, they reviewed all of the comments.  The noise level in the room arose as they perused their papers.  The responses ranged from the ridiculous and hopeless (i.e. "give up", "quit that job") to real practical solutions.  One woman came up to me as the event ended jumping for joy as she shared that she ended up with a real solution for a work problem that had been bugging her for weeks. 

It really helps to get a fresh perspective on your problems when you've been wrapped up in them for awhile.  Invite creativity and new ideas by asking others for their opinions.