A problem-solving method that explores all possible solutions by examining the structure and relationships of different variables. Useful for generating innovative design solutions and exploring a wide range of possibilities in digital product development.
A cognitive process used to generate creative ideas by exploring many possible solutions, often contrasted with convergent thinking. Essential for fostering creativity and innovation in problem-solving and design.
The belief in one's ability to create change through creativity, often leading to more innovative and effective problem-solving. Essential for fostering a mindset of innovation and creativity in design.
The process of working together with others to generate creative ideas and solutions, leveraging diverse perspectives and skills. Essential for producing innovative and well-rounded design solutions.
A strategic approach where multiple potential solutions are tested to identify the most promising one. Crucial for innovation and reducing risk in decision-making.
The systematic approach to managing innovation processes, from idea generation to implementation. Crucial for effectively harnessing creativity and ensuring successful innovation outcomes.
A visual tool that maps out opportunities and the corresponding solutions, helping teams identify and prioritize where to focus their efforts. Crucial for strategic planning and ensuring alignment between problems and solutions.
An organizational environment that encourages and supports creative thinking, risk-taking, and the pursuit of new ideas. Essential for fostering continuous improvement and breakthrough advancements.
A creative problem-solving technique that uses metaphors to generate ideas and solutions. Crucial for stimulating creative thinking and generating innovative ideas.
An iterative design process that uses algorithms and computational tools to generate a wide range of design solutions based on defined constraints and goals. Crucial for exploring innovative and optimized design solutions.
A design philosophy that views constraints as opportunities for creativity and innovation, rather than limitations. Crucial for fostering a mindset that turns limitations into design strengths.
A brainstorming technique that involves listing all possible attributes of a product or problem to generate new ideas and solutions. Useful for generating creative solutions and improving product features.
The practice of drawing inspiration from sources outside of one's field to generate creative ideas. Useful for fostering creativity and innovation in design and product development.
A project or venture that starts from scratch, with no constraints imposed by prior work, enabling innovation and flexibility in development. Essential for recognizing opportunities for innovation and fresh development in business initiatives.
A problem-solving approach that involves breaking down complex problems into their most basic, foundational elements. Crucial for developing innovative solutions by understanding and addressing core issues.
An open-ended and creative approach to problem-solving or planning, often involving brainstorming and envisioning future possibilities without constraints. Useful for fostering innovation and creative thinking in strategic planning and ideation sessions.
A creative thinking technique where the typical process is reversed to generate new ideas by considering the opposite of conventional assumptions. Useful for fostering innovation and challenging existing assumptions in problem-solving.
The process of generating a broad set of ideas on a given topic, with no attempt to judge or evaluate them initially. Crucial for creative problem-solving and developing innovative solutions in product design and development.
A brainstorming technique that frames problems as opportunities for innovation, starting with the phrase "How might we...?". Essential for fostering creativity and generating solutions during the design process.
A user-centered approach to problem-solving that involves empathy, ideation, prototyping, and testing. Crucial for developing innovative and effective solutions that meet user needs.
An enhanced version of the SCAMPER technique that includes additional prompts to further stimulate creativity and innovation. Useful for expanding the scope of ideation and generating more diverse ideas.
Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, and Reverse (SCAMPER) is a creative thinking technique that encourages innovation in a product or process. Useful for generating new ideas and improving existing products or processes.
The study of cooking techniques, ingredients, and the cultural significance of food, providing insights into creativity and innovation in other fields. Useful for drawing parallels between culinary arts and design, fostering creativity and innovation.
The context and set of conditions surrounding a problem that needs to be solved. Essential for understanding the full scope of a problem and identifying potential solutions.
An event where developers, designers, and other stakeholders collaborate intensively on software projects, typically within a short timeframe. Important for fostering innovation, team collaboration, and rapid prototyping of new ideas in digital product development.
A research method that involves forming a theory based on data systematically gathered and analyzed. Useful for developing design theories and solutions that are directly grounded in user research and data.
A brainstorming technique where participants intentionally suggest bad ideas to spur creative thinking and overcome mental blocks. Important for fostering creativity and out-of-the-box thinking during ideation sessions.
A cognitive process where ideas are brought together to find a single, best solution to a problem. Important for problem-solving and decision-making in design processes.
Research aimed at exploring and identifying new opportunities, needs, and ideas to inform the design process. Essential for discovering user insights and guiding innovative design solutions.
A cognitive bias that limits a person to using an object only in the way it is traditionally used. Important for designers to foster creative problem-solving and innovation.
An area in a market or industry that is currently underserved or unaddressed, presenting opportunities for innovation and new business ventures. Important for identifying gaps in the market that can be filled with new products, services, or solutions.
The process of investigating and experimenting with new technologies to understand their potential applications and benefits. Essential for innovation and staying ahead in a rapidly changing technological landscape.
The practice of guiding and inspiring teams to create effective, user-centered design solutions that align with business goals. Crucial for fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence in design practices within organizations.
Short, exploratory design activities or exercises that encourage creative thinking and experimentation. Important for fostering creativity and innovation in the design process.
The integration and application of knowledge and skills from multiple disciplines to enhance understanding and innovation. Crucial for fostering a holistic approach to problem-solving and design.
A reusable solution to common design problems that provides a standard way of addressing recurring issues in design. Essential for creating consistent and efficient design solutions.
Also known as "Maslow's Hammer," a cognitive bias where people rely too heavily on a familiar tool or method, often summarized as "if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.". Important for designers to recognize and avoid over-reliance on familiar methods in problem-solving and design.
A common solution to a recurring problem that is ineffective and counterproductive, often resulting in negative consequences. Important for recognizing and avoiding poor design practices and improving overall design quality.
A tool used during brainstorming sessions to prompt and inspire creative thinking, often containing questions, scenarios, or constraints. Useful for facilitating structured ideation sessions and sparking new ideas.
Methods and techniques used to overcome mental blocks that hinder creative thinking and problem-solving. Crucial for maintaining productivity and fostering innovation in design.
A brainstorming technique where participants sketch eight ideas in eight minutes to generate a wide range of concepts quickly. Essential for fostering creativity and generating diverse ideas rapidly.
The level of sophistication and integration of design practices within an organization's processes and culture. Essential for assessing and improving the effectiveness of design in driving business value and innovation.
Software as a Service (SaaS) is a software distribution model where applications are hosted by a service provider and accessed over the Internet. Crucial for enabling scalable and cost-effective software solutions for users.
The use of technology to perform repetitive tasks or processes in a workflow, liberating skilled experts from tedious activities and empowering them to focus on higher-order problem-solving and creative tasks. Crucial for streamlining operations, reducing human error, and enhancing the overall efficiency and innovation capacity of product design teams.
The area within a market where unmet needs or problems present potential for new products or services. Essential for identifying new business opportunities.
A skill set that combines deep knowledge in a single area (the vertical stroke) with a broad understanding across multiple disciplines (the horizontal stroke). Valuable for fostering versatility and collaboration within teams, enhancing problem-solving and innovation.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a comprehensive cloud computing platform provided by Amazon that offers a wide range of services including computing power, storage, and databases. Crucial for enabling scalable, cost-effective, and flexible IT infrastructure solutions for businesses of all sizes.
A professional responsible for designing and managing data structures, storage solutions, and data flows within an organization. Important for ensuring efficient data management and supporting data-driven decision-making in digital product design.
An approach where designers and non-designers work together throughout the design process to create user-centric solutions. Crucial for creating more inclusive and effective design outcomes.
The practicality of implementing a solution based on technical constraints and capabilities. Crucial for evaluating the viability of design and development projects.
The process of identifying user needs and market opportunities to inform the development of new products or features. Crucial for ensuring that products are user-centered and meet real market demands.
The process of anticipating future developments to ensure that a product or system remains relevant and functional over time. Essential for designing durable and adaptable products.
The implied cost of additional rework caused by choosing an easy or limited solution now instead of using a better approach that would take longer. Essential for understanding and managing the long-term impacts of short-term technical decisions.
Areas of unmet demand in a market where opportunities for growth and development exist. Essential for identifying new business opportunities.
Hardware and software designed to assist people with disabilities in using computers and digital content. Essential for understanding and designing for a diverse range of user needs.
Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) is the integration of AI with the Internet of Things (IoT) to create smart systems that can learn and adapt. Crucial for developing advanced, intelligent products that offer enhanced user experiences and operational efficiencies.
The practice of quickly testing and iterating on ideas to validate assumptions and learn from user feedback in a short time frame. Essential for agile development and making data-driven decisions efficiently.
A time-constrained, intensive process that helps teams quickly design, prototype, and test ideas. Important for rapidly developing and validating design solutions.
The process of defining and creating algorithms to solve problems and perform tasks efficiently. Fundamental for software development and creating efficient solutions.
An approach to design that actively involves all stakeholders (e.g., employees, partners, customers) in the design process. Crucial for creating designs that truly meet user needs and expectations.