SIGNALS: A design tool to encourage future thinking in problem identification

Ross Brisco, Ann Davidson

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

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Abstract

In the Discover phase of a design project, students can focus unjustly on current implementations of products and services and current societal norms. Future thinking aims to encourage users to consider the next generation, the products and services they will use in the future and the societal norms that will govern what would become a successful innovation. Signals is a tool that highlights current trends away from the norm, why these trends are significant and why they will become more critical in the future. Signals are currently being used as part of the Scottish Institute for Enterprise, Scottish Innovative Student Award (SISA) programme, where students from across Scotland are invited to attend innovation workshops to develop entrepreneurship skills. Signals are the starting point of these workshops to consider future solutions suitable for tomorrow's society. This paper will discuss the use of Signals with Design students and the benefits observed in the design process.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 8th International Symposium for Engineering Education
Place of PublicationGlasgow
PublisherUniversity of Strathclyde
Number of pages8
ISBN (Print)9781914241208
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 2022

Keywords

  • future thinking
  • design activity
  • design process
  • design methods
  • early design phase

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