After having it talked about it in Monday’s lecteur, I read James Webb Young’s “A Technique for Producing Ideas”.
“an idea is nothing more nor less than a new combination of old elements … the capacity to bring old elements into new combinations depends largely on the ability to see relationships.”
“an idea results from a new combination of specific knowledge about product and people with general knowledge about life and events.”
“you have to take your little newborn idea out into the world of reality. And when you do you usually find that it is not quite the marvellous child it seemed when you first found it.”
For a book that is only around forty pages in length, “A Technique for Producing Ideas” may be one of the most interesting things I’ve ever read.
Young begins by defining two groups of people; those constantly preoccupied with the possibilities of new combination, and people who are routine and unimaginative. These two groups are named speculator and rentier respectively. The speculator is able to manipulate the rentier through their ideas which can be formed through Young’s method which the book details.
The technique is based on the principle that an idea is a new combination of old elements, and that the new combination is formed by discovering the relationships between the old elements and what you are trying to achieve. From this, the technique can be defined into five steps:
What I find most interesting about the technique is, while it is a brilliant way to generate ideas, when you read through it seems completely obvious. Young touches on this in the second chapter, where he talks about how the technique is always used even without knowing of it, however, analysing the method allows you to generate better ideas in a more effective manor.
Another point in the book is highlighting the significance of gathering both specific and general research and knowledge to inform on a project. I’m really interested by the idea that your personal interests can be used in design projects. I’m sure I have done this before however I feel I will be able to utilise my own interests better having now a greater understanding of how to use my interests in generating ideas.
This has been really useful to me as it has given me an insight into my pre-existing method to produce ideas and how to improve on it. I intend to use Youngs techniques going forward.
After discussing the use of general research in class, we had made a mind map of where to find these influences, however, I wanted to form my own mind map with my own specific interests which I can refer to if I require inspiration on where to research.
I started very broadly by just walking around my house and taking pictures of examples of points, lines, and planes. I found this a useful exercise to just getting myself thinking about patterns, shapes, and designs that can be made using these three basic elements.