CREATIVE PROBLEM-FINDING: A SHIFT in FOCUS for CREATIVE TOOLS

Abstract

Identifying and forming problems is an important first step in the problem-solving process in the design field (and beyond). A valuable definition of creative problem-solving includes, on the one hand, the production of original, high quality, appropriate solutions, and, on the other hand, novel, complex, ill-defined or poorly structured problems that challenge these results [1]. Researchers, namely Wakefield (1985) argued that finding a problem is in fact more important than solving it, because it expands the potential to discover new possibilities [2]. However, the process of finding and identifying relevant problems remains fuzzy. An important reason why creative problem-solving fails, is related to the problems’ nature [3]. With this research we aim to offer a better understanding on how design problems are defined, by means of a tool, a graphic canvas. The purpose of most creative techniques is solving problems or generating ideas in the development of new services or products. Considering the added value of practice and coaching of problem-finding abilities in industry and education, and also the intrinsic goal of creative tools to develop the capacity of people’s innate potential, a method for problem description was developed. In order to validate the tool, we implemented it in the search process for master's thesis topics. By sharing our insights on the canvas/template creation and user feedback in the context of design education, we support the increasing attention that is given to the need of exploring problem-finding with an essential shift in creative problem-solving tools.