Design Thinking for Innovation

Author: Paolo Rossi

Reflection

Tool: Mind Mapping (Module 3)

1. Challenge and Selection

I work in an engineering company and it often happens that my team has to  create new concepts of new products that will have to be placed on the market.  Often these products have to be innovative and have to solve problems in an  ingenious way so that the customer is positively involved in using these  products. I chose the mind maps tool because it is based on creative abilities,  they can be created with colors and images, on processes that spontaneously  restructure information and that each time leave more than one interpretative  key open. For these reasons, mind maps are particularly effective for processing  thought and creativity, and this thought process can be very useful when  technical solutions to real problems need to be found.

2. Application

Concept development begins with brainstorming sessions, and mind mapping is  used to work out the relationship between topic information and new ideas. In  this brainstorming, each participant is encouraged to think out loud and  spontaneously come up with as many ideas as possible, no matter how wacky or  crazy it may seem. The problem or question is written in the center of a large  sheet of paper and the solutions are spread over the entire surface of the sheet.

The focus is on the topic; it is written in the center of the sheet and enclosed by a  circle. Branches branch off from this circle that divide and fan out the topic in  its individual areas. The keywords are written on the branches. The topics  represent the main branches. Details are written in the branches.

After creating a mind map, branches can be combined again or branches that  were not previously connected can be linked together. In addition, you can  search for missing branches to identify gaps for troubleshooting /  brainstorming. Mind mapping can also be understood as a continuous process in  which you start with a mind map on a more abstract level and become more and  more detailed over time through additions but also deletions.

Color and pictures or symbols can make a mind map even more meaningful,  often the result is so pleasant that I take a photo to have memory of the work  done, but unfortunately, these "works of art" cannot be printed because they  contain confidential information.

3. Insight & Approch

Mind mapping is able to present ideas in an intuitive and non-linear graphical  way and encourage a brainstorming approach to generate new ideas and make  connections. I've seen during these sessions that this approach encourages  enumerating and linking concepts without starting with a specific conceptual  framework. It often happens that the idea is divided into more related ideas  with additional lines in the map.

During these sessions, I usually take notes of ideas and creative thinking, while  critique and judgment of ideas are only allowed when the brainstorming session  is over. This rule allows people to think outside the box and freely suggest any  ideas that may seem remotely possible. The purpose of these sessions is to get as  many ideas as possible for later analysis. Therefore, people should build on the  ideas suggested by other participants.

The next step for my team will be to perform brainstorming sessions with the  creation of online mind maps by using dedicated software that allows to share  information in real time between teams located in different places such as  America and India. This tool could make people with different cultures and  problem solving approaches work together in the same time and I hope that this  methodology could give life to truly innovative ideas and products.


Design Thinking for Innovation Author : Paolo Rossi Reflection Tool : Mind Mapping ( Module 3 ) 1 . Challenge and Selection I work in an engineering company and it often happens that my team has to create new concepts of new products that will have to be placed on the market . Often these products have to be innovative and have to solve problems in an ingenious way so that the customer is positively involved in using these products . I chose the mind maps tool because it is based on creative abilities , they can be created with colors and images , on processes that spontaneously restructure information and that each time leave more than one interpretative key open . For these reasons , mind maps are particularly effective for processing thought and creativity , and this thought process can be very useful when technical solutions to real problems need to be found . 2 . Application Concept development begins with brainstorming sessions , and mind mapping is used to work out the relationship between topic information and new ideas . In this brainstorming , each participant is encouraged to think out loud and spontaneously come up with as many ideas as possible , no matter how wacky or crazy it may seem . The problem or question is written in the center of a large sheet of paper and the solutions are spread over the entire surface of the sheet . The focus is on the topic ; it is written in the center of the sheet and enclosed by a circle . Branches branch off from this circle that divide and fan out the topic in its individual areas . The keywords are written on the branches . The topics represent the main branches . Details are written in the branches . After creating a mind map , branches can be combined again or branches that were not previously connected can be linked together . In addition , you can search for missing branches to identify gaps for troubleshooting / brainstorming . Mind mapping can also be understood as a continuous process in which you start with a mind map on a more abstract level and become more and more detailed over time through additions but also deletions . Color and pictures or symbols can make a mind map even more meaningful , often the result is so pleasant that I take a photo to have memory of the work done , but unfortunately , these " works of art " can not be printed because they contain confidential information . 3 . Insight & Approch Mind mapping is able to present ideas in an intuitive and non - linear graphical way and encourage a brainstorming approach to generate new ideas and make connections . I 've seen during these sessions that this approach encourages enumerating and linking concepts without starting with a specific conceptual framework . It often happens that the idea is divided into more related ideas with additional lines in the map . During these sessions , I usually take notes of ideas and creative thinking , while critique and judgment of ideas are only allowed when the brainstorming session is over . This rule allows people to think outside the box and freely suggest any ideas that may seem remotely possible . The purpose of these sessions is to get as many ideas as possible for later analysis . Therefore , people should build on the ideas suggested by other participants . The next step for my team will be to perform brainstorming sessions with the creation of online mind maps by using dedicated software that allows to share information in real time between teams located in different places such as America and India . This tool could make people with different cultures and problem solving approaches work together in the same time and I hope that this methodology could give life to truly innovative ideas and products .