HCDE 503: Wk 3 - How do you generate new ideas?

HCDE 503 :  Wk 3 Reflection 

How do you generate new ideas? 

How do you reflect on ideas?

How do you come up with ideas? 

Fo me, these are all great questions to think since I think I am at a point of feeling stagnant as an architectural designer. My four years of architectural practice, doing mainly production work, instead of design, has drained me out of my creativity and passion that I once had when I was in architectural school. 

I am very glad I am taking this Design Practice class at the right moment when I am facing both a career choice and 30 years old crisis. It really helps me rethink about the word " career ".  It is not only a job, but a continual process of growth, reflection and refinement. It is about a craft that oneself have accumulated experience on for years and became expert at it. It is a kind of self-awareness and assertiveness of the value of her practice and know how to position oneself in the ever-changing society. I always have admiration for " masters " who have mastered their crafts over decades and still practicing it when they age. 

Our HCDE 503  instructor, Jeanie, made a good point about designers as both " innovators" and " practitioners". 

When I get stuck with no ideas in my head, how should I get started?  The followings are some method I use personally:

Allow Open Space to new idea to come in by :

-  playing 

-  people watching , being an observer for pattern 

Sense-making by re-evaluating constraints, resources and goals:

- organize and prioritize my thoughts by diagramming

- stop being a perfectionist to make one particular idea fully work

- explore multiple options at the same time

Use external resources for inspiration 

- inspirational podcast

- reference books

- talk to people