IDEA GENERATION TECHNIQUE AND CREATIVITY TOOLS IN ENGINEERING DESIGN COURSE
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
ABSTRACT
This study proposes a set of idea generation techniques and creativity tools that can be utilized for the identification of students’ perceptions toward generating ideas to produce concept designs. The sample of this study consists of 56 engineering students from the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), who have taken the Mechanical Engineering Design (KKKM 6034), Design Project (KKKM 4955) and Product Design (KKKP 4274) courses. The survey questionnaire instrument was designed based on the theory of the 6 P’s of creativity (Person, Process, Product, Place, Pressure and Persuasion). The questionnaire consisted of 32 items, divided by 11 different contexts of people using idea generation techniques: time constraints, differences among members, availability of information, background knowledge of participants, the willingness to perform trial-and-error, democratic leadership, constructive dialogues, vibrant discussions, thoroughness of ideas, elaboration of ideas and diversity of ideas. Statistical analysis revealed that students preferred to use techniques to obtain more ideas by means of reading; observations and interviews; and using integrated creativity tools that combines the problem exploration tools, idea generation tools and concept evaluation tools. The results indicate that, among all creativity tools, Quality Function Deployment (QFD), and Morphology Analysis and Failure Mode Effects Analysis (FMEA), have very high application frequencies in their categories. Students’ perception revealed that the creativity tools applied have applicability in all 11 contexts, providing information for the problem solving design process, describing ideas in more detail, as well as generating a wider diversity of ideas and very useful tools in the process of design ideas in group projects.
KEYWORDS
creativity tools, idea generation technique, engineering design