TY - JOUR
T1 - How Task Constraints Affect Inspiration Search Strategies
AU - Biskjær, Michael Mose
AU - Christensen, Bo
AU - Friis-Olivarius, Morten
AU - Abildgaard, Sille J. J.
AU - Lundquist, Caroline
AU - Halskov, Kim
N1 - Published online: 8. February 2019
PY - 2020/3
Y1 - 2020/3
N2 - Searching for sources of inspiration is central to creative design; however, we have limited knowledge of individual inspiration search strategies in response to varying levels of task constraints. We studied 39 high-school students’ inspiration search strategies using Google Images. Low task constrainedness led to divergent search marked by quick iterations, limited design task usage, and a heterogeneous image set. Intermediate constrainedness prompted in-depth, on-task exploration characterized by slow and careful iterations with more search result examination, extensive design task usage, and homogenous images. High constrainedness led to flexible bracketing with quick, flexible design task use, ending with heterogeneous images. Images from the intermediately and highly constrained conditions generated more ideas and were perceived as more inspiring (relative to low) in a new group of students. We discuss the idea of a ‘sweet spot’ of constrainedness in an inspiration search process in design and consider implications for design research and future work.
AB - Searching for sources of inspiration is central to creative design; however, we have limited knowledge of individual inspiration search strategies in response to varying levels of task constraints. We studied 39 high-school students’ inspiration search strategies using Google Images. Low task constrainedness led to divergent search marked by quick iterations, limited design task usage, and a heterogeneous image set. Intermediate constrainedness prompted in-depth, on-task exploration characterized by slow and careful iterations with more search result examination, extensive design task usage, and homogenous images. High constrainedness led to flexible bracketing with quick, flexible design task use, ending with heterogeneous images. Images from the intermediately and highly constrained conditions generated more ideas and were perceived as more inspiring (relative to low) in a new group of students. We discuss the idea of a ‘sweet spot’ of constrainedness in an inspiration search process in design and consider implications for design research and future work.
KW - Sources of inspiration
KW - Search strategy
KW - Constraints
KW - Google Images
KW - Quantitative study
KW - Sweet spot
KW - Sources of inspiration
KW - Search strategy
KW - Constraints
KW - Google Images
KW - Quantitative study
KW - Sweet spot
U2 - 10.1007/s10798-019-09496-7
DO - 10.1007/s10798-019-09496-7
M3 - Journal article
SN - 0957-7572
VL - 30
SP - 101
EP - 125
JO - International Journal of Technology and Design Education
JF - International Journal of Technology and Design Education
IS - 1
ER -