Prompt

The goal of brainstorming is to create a generative list of ideas for potential projects that you can continue to explore. Our mission in this studio is to design wearable technologies that improve mental, physical, or environmental health.

Brainstorming Tips

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 class, and your neighbourhood for inspiration. Talk to your friends and family members about their related experiences. Explore any designs, artworks, sculptures, and installations that come to mind, and record the maker/designer/artist if possible. This helps build your knowledge of the world of art, design, and architecture and allows you to talk more knowledgeably about your work and research.

Part 1: Health Issues Brainstorming 

Instructions

To get started with the brainstorming process, think back to all of your discussions and precedent analysis thus far. What key issues have you identified? What concepts resonated with you? Are there topics that impact you or someone you know that you want to address?  

As you reflect, create a list of 10+ responses to the question: What specific mental/physical/environmental condition or issue are you interested in designing for?

Part 2: Project Idea Brainstorming 

Instructions

This initial list is going to seed the rest of the brainstorming process and facilitate the idea generation process. Your task is to think of 5+ project ideas that come to mind based on the health issues that you have identified in Part I of this activity. Each idea should be framed as a clear 1-2 sentence statement, and each idea should be accompanied by a sketch. As you think of your 5+ ideas, reference the Guiding Questions below:

Guiding Questions

1. What specific mental/physical/environmental condition or issue will you be designing a wearable to engage?
2. How will the design improve, interact with, and/or respond to your chosen mental/physical/environmental condition or issue?
3. How will your design enable your desired outcome? (Think back to your precedent research - what materials could you use? Where will you locate the design on the body? Is the design interactive? What is the look and feel of the design? 

Don't worry if you're unable to answer all of these questions right now!

Deliverable

In the "Responses" tab create a post that includes each of your 5 (or more) ideas accompanied by a 1-2 sentence explanatory statement and a sketch.

Part 3: Collective Brainstorming 

In this portion of the Brainstorming process, you will all share your 5+ project ideas and the concepts behind them. Your teacher will facilitate a group discussion around ideas (ideally on a whiteboard) and begin to categorize ideas in clusters. At this stage of the design process, brainstorming project ideas are shared amongst everyone - no matter who shared the idea initially. 

At the end of the Collective Brainstorming exercise, you will pick three ideas you would like to possibly pursue. Your teachers will form teams after this step. Moving forward, each team will focus on one idea.