Design Strategies

Question 1

Inspiration from Existing Products

Answer 1

Designers often take inspiration from existing products (either natural or manmade). However, designers must be careful not to infringe IP.

Question 2

Analogy

Answer 2

When an idea or solution is taken from one situation and applied to solve another problem.

Question 3

Biomimicary

Answer 3

Analogy from nature

Question 4

Brainstorm

Answer 4

Members of a group aim to solve problems or generate ideas quickly.

Question 5

Disassembly / Reverse Engineering

Answer 5

Taking a product apart in order to extract knowledge or reproduce elements in a competitive product.

Question 6

Inversion

Answer 6

Flipping a problem on its head (e.g. ‘how can I get to work?’ -> ‘how can work get to me?’

Question 7

Morphological Analysis

Answer 7

Matrix of design elements that can be connected together in different ways to create ideas.

Question 8

Lateral Thinking

Answer 8

Approach a problem from a different angle or perspective.