Developing a graphic tool for creative problem solving in design groups

Abstract Methods for stimulating creativity are strongly based on generating ideas in a sentential manner, while in product design visual expression is a strong device for stimulating creativity. Enabling designers to sketch in creative problem solving meetings may make these meeting more suitable for a product design context. We are interested in investigating the effects of including visual means of expression into creative problem solving meetings. The linkography system for analyzing links among design moves was adapted for this purpose. This paper describes four creative problem solving meeting experiments in which graphic variations on the brainstorming technique were explored. The results suggest that a substantial change in process occurs when including visual expression into creative problem solving meetings. Present visual adaptations of the brainstorming technique applied do not appear to suffice.