Animal analogies for developing design thinking

Abstract

The paper covers the development of a project aimed at first year design students starting out at university. This consists of a series of creative design techniques wrapped up in a managed project to design an animal. These techniques range from conventional processes such as specification writing and model making through to more off-the-wall techniques such as forced serendipity and genetic breeding processes. Students are also introduced to developmental processes such as structural design and systems design through the project. It is hoped to develop the project into an interactive tool for the development of creativity using the animal design project as an illustrative vehicle for the techniques.