Creative Thinking Techniques Exam Prep

A design team is using De Bono's Six Thinking Hats method to evaluate a new product idea. The team needs to identify potential risks and challenges associated with the product's launch. Which thinking hat should the team use to specifically focus on these negative aspects?

• Blue Hat: To organise and oversee the creative-thinking process

• White Hat: To focus on objective data and information

• Red Hat: To express feelings and intuitions

• Black Hat: To identify potential problems and critical judgment

Answer explanation

The Black Hat is used to identify potential problems and critical judgment1 . It focuses on the risks, potential downsides, and challenges associated with the idea being evaluated. The other hats serve different purposes in the creative-thinking process:

•The Blue Hat is used to manage the thinking process itself.

•The White Hat is concerned with objective facts and information.

•The Red Hat allows for the expression of feelings and intuitions .

A fast-food restaurant is looking to innovate its menu using the SCAMPER technique to appeal to a broader range of customers. Which of the following SCAMPER strategies would best cater to health-conscious customers?

• Combine the hamburger with elements of a taco, such as adding salsa, guacamole, and a crispy tortilla shell instead of a traditional bun, creating a unique fusion dish

• Modify the sauce to a spicy sriracha mayo to appeal to customers who enjoy bold flavours, adding a unique twist to the classic hamburger

• Use the hamburger ingredients as a topping for a pizza, creating a hamburger-themed pizza that offers a novel dining experience, cross-promoting different menu items and increasing overall sales

• Substitute the beef patty with a plant-based patty

Answer explanation

Substituting the beef patty with a plant-based patty directly addresses the needs and preferences of health-conscious customers and vegetarians. The other options focus on flavour profiles or combining different food items, which do not specifically target health-conscious consumers.

A design team is beginning a new project to create a website for a local bakery. They want to use a mind mapping technique to generate ideas and explore different aspects of the design. Which of the following BEST describes how they could use mind mapping in this initial stage of the design process

• To create a detailed project timeline with specific deadlines for each task.

• To develop a hierarchical sitemap outlining the website's navigation structure.

• To visually explore connections between various design elements, allowing a free flow of ideas related to the bakery's brand, target audience, and website functionality

• To create a detailed list of required resources, including budget, personnel, and software.

Answer explanation

Option c) is the correct answer. Mind mapping is a creative thinking technique used to visually explore connections between different aspects of a design. It allows for a free flow of ideas and can enhance collaboration within a team. In this scenario, the design team can use mind mapping to brainstorm ideas related to the bakery's brand, target audience, and website functionality .

The other options describe different project management or information architecture techniques:

Option a) describes project scheduling.

Option b) describes creating a sitemap.

Option d) describes resource planning.

Consider the following design shown. Use the PMI technique to analyse it by identifying:

Plus Points: Provide one positive aspect of the design and explain why it is beneficial.

Minus Points: Provide one negative aspect of the design and explain why it is problematic.

Interesting Points: Provide one interesting or thought-provoking aspect of the design that could spark further ideas or improvements.

Answer explanation

Here is an example of a possible answer:

Plus: The use of a bold font ensures the text is noticeable. This can help the message stand out, grabbing the viewer's attention.

Minus: The overlay of red and blue typography makes the text hard to read. Readability is crucial for effective communication, and this design choice compromises that.

Interesting: The use of red and blue might be intended to create a sense of depth or movement. Exploring how this effect could be enhanced without sacrificing readability could lead to innovative design solutions.

A company wants to re-design a standard bicycle using the SCAMPER technique to create an innovative new product. Describe how the company could apply three different SCAMPER strategies to the bicycle's design, providing a specific example for each strategy and explaining the potential benefits of each change

Answer explanation

For example, the strategies and potential benefits could include:

Substitute: Replacing the metal frame with a lighter carbon fibre frame to reduce weight and improve speed.

Combine: Integrating a small electric motor to assist with pedalling, creating a hybrid bicycle that makes uphill climbs easier.

Adapt: Modifying the handlebars to fold down, making the bicycle easier to store in small spaces or transport in a car.

Modify: Changing the seat to be a wider, more comfortable design to be more comfortable, which would appeal to a wider range of riders, including those who may have previously found bike seats uncomfortable.

Put to other uses: Designing the bicycle with attachments for carrying groceries, transforming it into a versatile vehicle for shopping and errands.

Eliminate: Removing the traditional chain and replacing it with a belt drive system to reduce maintenance and increase reliability.

Rearrange: Changing the position of the pedals to be more ergonomic, such as placing them slightly forward, to improve pedalling efficiency and reduce strain on the knees.

Nintendo is developing a new version of the Switch console. Describe how the design team could use the Yellow Hat in the Six Thinking Hats technique, and give two specific examples of the questions or considerations they would address using this hat

Answer explanation

The design team could use the Yellow Hat to focus on the positive aspects, benefits, and opportunities presented by the design of the new Nintendo Switch console. This involves a deliberate effort to identify the strengths and value of the design, setting aside criticisms for the moment.

Two specific examples of questions or considerations they would address are:

What are the key advantages of our proposed new features (e.g., improved screen, better battery life) for the user experience?

How can we highlight the unique selling points of the Nintendo Switch design (e.g., portability, versatility) to appeal to a broad audience?