Generate Ideas!

Joselyn McDonald

Introduction

At this stage in the Challenge, you've learned about a variety of inspirational handwashing device precedents from around the world, and you've found a location in your own community that would benefit from access to hand sanitation.  Your goal in this next step of the Challenge is to get your ideas flowing and develop some potential design concepts that you can continue to explore.  You are going to come up with 6-10 ideas for a creative new handwashing device. The more ideas, the better! 

Optional Activity: Image Board

One technique that can be helpful to start the ideas flowing is to create an 'image board' with relevant pictures to give you inspiration.  Consider making an image board with pictures showing different ways of moving water from one place to another.  Don't limit yourself to handwashing images - think about all the different ways that water can be transported, both natural and manmade.  Just a few examples might be rivers and waterfalls, hydroelectric stations and hosepipes - there are endless possibilities, so think as broadly as you can.

Activity

Sketch out 6-10 possibilities for your handwashing device. If you've made an image board, you can use this for inspiration.  Don't spend too long on the detail of any individual design at this stage - the aim is to get lots of ideas flowing!  A good technique can be to set yourself a time limit of one minute per sketch and move on without taking a break.

Brainstorming can be a great way to generate ideas.  It involves getting a group together so that everyone can suggest lots of new ideas.  Try it with friends or family!

Make sure you think about the interactivity aspect of your device. What will make people want to use it?

Brainstorming Tips

Whether you're working alone or in a group, here are some tips to help:

  1.  Wild ideas lead to creativity: Do not filter anything out at this stage, even if it doesn't seem "practical" or "possible." Keep an open mind - ideas can become more specific and feasible as we develop them further. At this stage, anything is possible.
  2. Aim for as many ideas as possible: Whatever comes to mind, get it down on paper or typed into a meaningful document - just make sure you're creating a record of what you're thinking. These thoughts can be words, visuals, ideas, images, materials, objects, places - at this stage, it doesn't matter.
  3. Inspiration can come from anywhere: look around your home, your school, your local area for inspiration - or use the internet to find ideas from further afield.


>> Proceed to Step 4.

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