by Arvind V.
Written: May 04 2020
Updated: May 30 2025
My Design Thinking Course Play and Invent
Based on Csikszentmihalyi, Bourdieu, and de Bono
Some decent Socio-Cultural Ideas (David Foster Wallace)
Divergent and Convergent Thinking Techniques (Guilford, Wallas-Kogan)
Some Problem Analysis
I was dissatisfied with "brainstorming"
My own hardware design experiences at ISRO, CDOT, Wipro, TI seemed to have more structure in innovation
Wanted to bring it to the classroom ! Didn't know how!!!
And wrote my own content from 2018-2019, taught it starting 2018, to Art/Design undergrads!! No Content survives first contact with the students: More than 100 GitHub pushes.
*Teoriya Resheniya Izobretatelskikh Zadacht
In diverse Domains
And a growing world of Experts and Practitioners
All creative Patents solved...CONTRADICTIONS!
Similar Contradictions were found across Domains
But used different language / terminology
Similar Inventive Solutions were found across Domains
Whatever can be wrong with a pizza box!! (Unless it is empty..)
Lids get soggy with steam, and may touch the toppings!
So?
PROBLEM: Ever tried to scrape cheese off the inside of a pizza box lid?
Chains need to be flexible so that can wrap around sprockets
Chains need to be hard so that they don't snap
So?
PROBLEM: Ever had greasy hands trying to re-align a slipped chain?
Both Objects above embody a CONTRADICTION.
This is one of the Central Ideas in (classical TRIZ).
CONTRADICTIONs can also exist in situations !
https://www.dicardiology.com/content/blogs/explaining-cardiac-conditions-layman-using-old-house-analogy
Man, Material, Method, Management, Machinery (Ishikawa)
What things create the compromise/tradeoff?
We are far richer than we realize!
Karl Duncker's Cognitive Games
Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" (Ch.7: "We spat ourselves dry")
Thinking Inside the Box: Ellen Domb's "The Titanic Role-Play Game"
The Ideal Final Result
A "Want my Cake and Have it Too" outlook
A uniquely TRIZ no-compromise formulation
A solution before the Solution
Ideality=Benefits/(Harm+Costs)
"Apollo 13"
Problems -> Contradictions
Contradictions exist at multiple levels
Administrative, or plain English. (Oh those Russians...)
Technical (Using TRIZ Metaphors, as we'll see)
Physical An Impossible Sounding Statement (using TRIZ Syntax)
Ever heard of Hiranyakashipu?
One Parameter or Knob for each Resource
Each Knob creates a Certain Outcome at one Setting
And another Outcome at the Opposite Setting.
This is the Source of your Administrative Contradiction (In plain English) !!
https://www.opensourcetriz.com/teaching-materials.html
AC: State your Problem in "plain English"
TC: "Metaphorize" your Problem using 48 TRIZ Parameters
Uses 48 "TRIZ Standard" Parameters
Sets off Contradictions, each Parameter against the others
48 X 48 matrix!
Each Cell represents a "Generalized Problem"
Each cell has "TRIZ Inventive Principles"
https://discoverapega.ca/stories/wildlife-crossings-key-to-highway-safety-in-banff/
Knobs from the Ishikawa Diagram (short list):
Output: Road Kill / Affects Animal Migration / Human Costs / Fast Journeys
AC: We want to drive at high speed, but not kill migrating wild animals (or endanger our vehicles).
Technical Contradictions:
TC1: Increase Speed(9) and not worsen Duration of Action by Moving Object(15)
TC2: Improve Volume of Moving Object(7) and not worsen Loss of Time(25)
TC3: Improve Object affected by external harmful factors(30) and not worsen Duration of Action by Stationary Object(16)[see footnote]
Animals are stationary compared to the cars!!
Technical Contradictions:
TC1: Inventive Principles and their Interpretation:
3(Local Quality): Local Quality? Parameter Change? Ok, change the road in some way...can't change all cars and definitely can't "change" animals!!
19(Periodic Action): Something to be done repeartedly, but what?
35(Parameter Change): Some aspect of the Road to be changed, but again... what parameter?
5(Merging): ??
TC2: Inventive Principles and their Interpretation:
35(Parameter Change): hmm..suggested again. Which Parameter to change?
18(Mechanical Vibration): What???? A Siren???
34(Rejecting and Regenerating Parts): Hmm....Not particularly evocative...
TC3: Inventive Principles and their Interpretation:
17(Another Dimension)!!!: Go above or below!!!
1(Segmentation): Pieces??
40(Composite Materials): A Solution with Parts? Trees? Tar? Concrete? Paint?
33(Homogeneity): Equal Opportunity??
Solution:
(17)Another Dimension + (35)Parameter Change + 3(Local Quality) = Animal Bridge!!! (And Tunnels also in places)
Also 33(Homogeneity) = Equal Opportunity for Animals and Vehicles
Inventive Principles have a curious way of "coalescing" in the end!!
Herbivores use the bridges; Carnivores prefer the tunnels it seems
Drivers "need" to protest against their Employers
Strikes unfortunately hurt commuters, who are forced to empathize
Strikes do not directly "hurt the management"...which is the intent!
When drivers return, they are apologetic...maybe.
http://www.darrellmann.com/mini-case-study-strike/
IFR: Strikers must convey their anger only to employers who are far away.
AC: We want to strike against our employers, but they are not riding on the buses we drive !! Commuters are!!
TC: Improve Force(10) (of the Strike) and not worsen Object generated Harmful Effects(31) (on themselves nor on commuters)
"PC": Drivers must strike AND not strike at the same time! ( From whose point of view !! )
TC: Improve Force(10) ( i.e.of the Strike) and not worsen Object generated Harmful Effects(31) ( i.e. on themselves nor on commuters)
IP13 (The Other Way Around!!): What points in one direction and can be turned around? Bus Routes? Ticket Transactions?
IP3 (Local Quality): Something should be different inside the bus!!
IP36 (Phase Transition): Hmm..everybody involved must "change dramatically"...who? Commuters? Drivers ?
IP24 (Intermediary): Fuel Cost and Loss of Revenue as intermediary between striking staff and the company!
How can we use these metaphoric solutions...
Solution:
FREE, FREE, FREE !! The Bus Ticket Transaction is IP13 (The other way around)! So Conductors pay commuters..by not charging!!
Run buses properly on time! Use up Fuel and be on Time, but NO REVENUE ! That'll fetch the Managers! IP24 (Intermediary)
Everybody in the Bus suddenly Sympathises! IP36 (Phase Transition) and IP3 (Local Quality)
Look at RESOURCES (knobs) within the Problem and how they affect the situation (Open Source TRIZ)
Turn the knobs to formulate a ADMINISTRATIVE CONTRADICTION
Specify an IDEAL FINAL RESULT
Convert/metaphorize the CONTRADICTION into TRIZ PARAMETERs
Look up the TRIZ CONTRADICTION MATRIX. Discover the INVENTIVE PRINCIPLES you might apply
Un-metaphorize the INVENTIVE PRINCIPLES to apply them in a specific way in your problem and solve it!
9 Windows
Most Valuable Parameter (MPV)
"Anti-Product" View
Function Ranking
Cause Effect Chain Analysis ( CECA )
Trimming
Contradictions
Inventive Principles
76 Scientific Effects / Solutions
Thinking in "System Operators" ( 9 Windows )
The past, present, and future of a (problematic) System
The Sub-System, System, and Super-System
Past | Present | Future | |
---|---|---|---|
SuperSystem | |||
System | |||
Subsystem |
Innovation = Main Parameter of Value ( MPV )
How to find the MPV ?
PARAMETERS | Known | Unknown |
---|---|---|
Unsatisfied | MPV | Latent MPV / Accepted Limitation! |
Satisfied | PV | Tacit |
"Eureka On Demand": A Full Suite of Problem Identification Tools:
F. CARRIER | FUNCTION | F. OBJECT | CATEGORY (HARMFUL/ USEFUL) | Basic/Aux/Addl | PERFORMANCE ( Normal etc | RANKING | Scale | Oven |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VESSEL | holds | ACID | Useful | Addl | Normal | 1 | NO | OK |
VESSEL | touches | OVEN | Useful | Basic | Normal | 3 | NO | OK |
ACID | touches | SPECIMEN | Useful | Basic | Normal | 3 | OK | NO |
SPECIMEN | touches | SCALE | Useful | Basic | Normal | 3 | OK | OK |
"Eureka On Demand": A Full Suite of Problem Identification Tools:
Interaction Analysis
System: Acid-Corrosion Testing Tank for materials
Vessel | Acid | Specimen | Air | Gravity | Light | Scale | Oven | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vessel | X | OK | NO | OK | OK | OK | NO | OK |
Acid | OK | X | OK | OK | OK | OK | NO | OK |
Specimen | NO | OK | X | OK | OK | OK | OK | NO |
Air | OK | OK | NO | X | OK | OK | OK | OK |
Gravity | OK | OK | OK | OK | X | OK | OK | OK |
Light | OK | OK | OK | OK | OK | X | OK | OK |
Scale | NO | NO | OK | OK | OK | OK | X | NO |
Oven | OK | OK | NO | OK | OK | OK | NO | X |
"Eureka On Demand": A Full Suite of Problem Solution Tools:
Trimming
What parts of the System can be removed?
How can you justify their removal?
It contains the distilled inventive wisdom of humanity
Can confer super powers on the user
Be ready to be called "crazy" and get incredulous looks!(Personal Experience)
And of course, there is money....and name and fame if you want it!
More of the Problem Identification Tools
Try to game-ify them!
Real Life Examples
Most Valuable Parameter (MPV)
"Anti-Product" View
Function / Component / Interaction / Cost Analysis
Trimming!
How to turn Procedures/Processes into Games in the Classroom !!
What do I TRIM from the existing course !!
Maurice Leloir (1851-1940)
Keyboard shortcuts
↑, ←, Pg Up, k | Go to previous slide |
↓, →, Pg Dn, Space, j | Go to next slide |
Home | Go to first slide |
End | Go to last slide |
Number + Return | Go to specific slide |
b / m / f | Toggle blackout / mirrored / fullscreen mode |
c | Clone slideshow |
p | Toggle presenter mode |
t | Restart the presentation timer |
?, h | Toggle this help |
o | Tile View: Overview of Slides |
Esc | Back to slideshow |
by Arvind V.
Written: May 04 2020
Updated: May 30 2025
My Design Thinking Course Play and Invent
Based on Csikszentmihalyi, Bourdieu, and de Bono
Some decent Socio-Cultural Ideas (David Foster Wallace)
Divergent and Convergent Thinking Techniques (Guilford, Wallas-Kogan)
Some Problem Analysis
I was dissatisfied with "brainstorming"
My own hardware design experiences at ISRO, CDOT, Wipro, TI seemed to have more structure in innovation
Wanted to bring it to the classroom ! Didn't know how!!!
And wrote my own content from 2018-2019, taught it starting 2018, to Art/Design undergrads!! No Content survives first contact with the students: More than 100 GitHub pushes.
*Teoriya Resheniya Izobretatelskikh Zadacht
In diverse Domains
And a growing world of Experts and Practitioners
All creative Patents solved...CONTRADICTIONS!
Similar Contradictions were found across Domains
But used different language / terminology
Similar Inventive Solutions were found across Domains
Whatever can be wrong with a pizza box!! (Unless it is empty..)
Lids get soggy with steam, and may touch the toppings!
So?
PROBLEM: Ever tried to scrape cheese off the inside of a pizza box lid?
Chains need to be flexible so that can wrap around sprockets
Chains need to be hard so that they don't snap
So?
PROBLEM: Ever had greasy hands trying to re-align a slipped chain?
Both Objects above embody a CONTRADICTION.
This is one of the Central Ideas in (classical TRIZ).
CONTRADICTIONs can also exist in situations !
https://www.dicardiology.com/content/blogs/explaining-cardiac-conditions-layman-using-old-house-analogy
Man, Material, Method, Management, Machinery (Ishikawa)
What things create the compromise/tradeoff?
We are far richer than we realize!
Karl Duncker's Cognitive Games
Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" (Ch.7: "We spat ourselves dry")
Thinking Inside the Box: Ellen Domb's "The Titanic Role-Play Game"
The Ideal Final Result
A "Want my Cake and Have it Too" outlook
A uniquely TRIZ no-compromise formulation
A solution before the Solution
Ideality=Benefits/(Harm+Costs)
"Apollo 13"
Problems -> Contradictions
Contradictions exist at multiple levels
Administrative, or plain English. (Oh those Russians...)
Technical (Using TRIZ Metaphors, as we'll see)
Physical An Impossible Sounding Statement (using TRIZ Syntax)
Ever heard of Hiranyakashipu?
One Parameter or Knob for each Resource
Each Knob creates a Certain Outcome at one Setting
And another Outcome at the Opposite Setting.
This is the Source of your Administrative Contradiction (In plain English) !!
https://www.opensourcetriz.com/teaching-materials.html
AC: State your Problem in "plain English"
TC: "Metaphorize" your Problem using 48 TRIZ Parameters
Uses 48 "TRIZ Standard" Parameters
Sets off Contradictions, each Parameter against the others
48 X 48 matrix!
Each Cell represents a "Generalized Problem"
Each cell has "TRIZ Inventive Principles"
https://discoverapega.ca/stories/wildlife-crossings-key-to-highway-safety-in-banff/
Knobs from the Ishikawa Diagram (short list):
Output: Road Kill / Affects Animal Migration / Human Costs / Fast Journeys
AC: We want to drive at high speed, but not kill migrating wild animals (or endanger our vehicles).
Technical Contradictions:
TC1: Increase Speed(9) and not worsen Duration of Action by Moving Object(15)
TC2: Improve Volume of Moving Object(7) and not worsen Loss of Time(25)
TC3: Improve Object affected by external harmful factors(30) and not worsen Duration of Action by Stationary Object(16)[see footnote]
Animals are stationary compared to the cars!!
Technical Contradictions:
TC1: Inventive Principles and their Interpretation:
3(Local Quality): Local Quality? Parameter Change? Ok, change the road in some way...can't change all cars and definitely can't "change" animals!!
19(Periodic Action): Something to be done repeartedly, but what?
35(Parameter Change): Some aspect of the Road to be changed, but again... what parameter?
5(Merging): ??
TC2: Inventive Principles and their Interpretation:
35(Parameter Change): hmm..suggested again. Which Parameter to change?
18(Mechanical Vibration): What???? A Siren???
34(Rejecting and Regenerating Parts): Hmm....Not particularly evocative...
TC3: Inventive Principles and their Interpretation:
17(Another Dimension)!!!: Go above or below!!!
1(Segmentation): Pieces??
40(Composite Materials): A Solution with Parts? Trees? Tar? Concrete? Paint?
33(Homogeneity): Equal Opportunity??
Solution:
(17)Another Dimension + (35)Parameter Change + 3(Local Quality) = Animal Bridge!!! (And Tunnels also in places)
Also 33(Homogeneity) = Equal Opportunity for Animals and Vehicles
Inventive Principles have a curious way of "coalescing" in the end!!
Herbivores use the bridges; Carnivores prefer the tunnels it seems
Drivers "need" to protest against their Employers
Strikes unfortunately hurt commuters, who are forced to empathize
Strikes do not directly "hurt the management"...which is the intent!
When drivers return, they are apologetic...maybe.
http://www.darrellmann.com/mini-case-study-strike/
IFR: Strikers must convey their anger only to employers who are far away.
AC: We want to strike against our employers, but they are not riding on the buses we drive !! Commuters are!!
TC: Improve Force(10) (of the Strike) and not worsen Object generated Harmful Effects(31) (on themselves nor on commuters)
"PC": Drivers must strike AND not strike at the same time! ( From whose point of view !! )
TC: Improve Force(10) ( i.e.of the Strike) and not worsen Object generated Harmful Effects(31) ( i.e. on themselves nor on commuters)
IP13 (The Other Way Around!!): What points in one direction and can be turned around? Bus Routes? Ticket Transactions?
IP3 (Local Quality): Something should be different inside the bus!!
IP36 (Phase Transition): Hmm..everybody involved must "change dramatically"...who? Commuters? Drivers ?
IP24 (Intermediary): Fuel Cost and Loss of Revenue as intermediary between striking staff and the company!
How can we use these metaphoric solutions...
Solution:
FREE, FREE, FREE !! The Bus Ticket Transaction is IP13 (The other way around)! So Conductors pay commuters..by not charging!!
Run buses properly on time! Use up Fuel and be on Time, but NO REVENUE ! That'll fetch the Managers! IP24 (Intermediary)
Everybody in the Bus suddenly Sympathises! IP36 (Phase Transition) and IP3 (Local Quality)
Look at RESOURCES (knobs) within the Problem and how they affect the situation (Open Source TRIZ)
Turn the knobs to formulate a ADMINISTRATIVE CONTRADICTION
Specify an IDEAL FINAL RESULT
Convert/metaphorize the CONTRADICTION into TRIZ PARAMETERs
Look up the TRIZ CONTRADICTION MATRIX. Discover the INVENTIVE PRINCIPLES you might apply
Un-metaphorize the INVENTIVE PRINCIPLES to apply them in a specific way in your problem and solve it!
9 Windows
Most Valuable Parameter (MPV)
"Anti-Product" View
Function Ranking
Cause Effect Chain Analysis ( CECA )
Trimming
Contradictions
Inventive Principles
76 Scientific Effects / Solutions
Thinking in "System Operators" ( 9 Windows )
The past, present, and future of a (problematic) System
The Sub-System, System, and Super-System
Past | Present | Future | |
---|---|---|---|
SuperSystem | |||
System | |||
Subsystem |
Innovation = Main Parameter of Value ( MPV )
How to find the MPV ?
PARAMETERS | Known | Unknown |
---|---|---|
Unsatisfied | MPV | Latent MPV / Accepted Limitation! |
Satisfied | PV | Tacit |
"Eureka On Demand": A Full Suite of Problem Identification Tools:
F. CARRIER | FUNCTION | F. OBJECT | CATEGORY (HARMFUL/ USEFUL) | Basic/Aux/Addl | PERFORMANCE ( Normal etc | RANKING | Scale | Oven |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VESSEL | holds | ACID | Useful | Addl | Normal | 1 | NO | OK |
VESSEL | touches | OVEN | Useful | Basic | Normal | 3 | NO | OK |
ACID | touches | SPECIMEN | Useful | Basic | Normal | 3 | OK | NO |
SPECIMEN | touches | SCALE | Useful | Basic | Normal | 3 | OK | OK |
"Eureka On Demand": A Full Suite of Problem Identification Tools:
Interaction Analysis
System: Acid-Corrosion Testing Tank for materials
Vessel | Acid | Specimen | Air | Gravity | Light | Scale | Oven | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vessel | X | OK | NO | OK | OK | OK | NO | OK |
Acid | OK | X | OK | OK | OK | OK | NO | OK |
Specimen | NO | OK | X | OK | OK | OK | OK | NO |
Air | OK | OK | NO | X | OK | OK | OK | OK |
Gravity | OK | OK | OK | OK | X | OK | OK | OK |
Light | OK | OK | OK | OK | OK | X | OK | OK |
Scale | NO | NO | OK | OK | OK | OK | X | NO |
Oven | OK | OK | NO | OK | OK | OK | NO | X |
"Eureka On Demand": A Full Suite of Problem Solution Tools:
Trimming
What parts of the System can be removed?
How can you justify their removal?
It contains the distilled inventive wisdom of humanity
Can confer super powers on the user
Be ready to be called "crazy" and get incredulous looks!(Personal Experience)
And of course, there is money....and name and fame if you want it!
More of the Problem Identification Tools
Try to game-ify them!
Real Life Examples
Most Valuable Parameter (MPV)
"Anti-Product" View
Function / Component / Interaction / Cost Analysis
Trimming!
How to turn Procedures/Processes into Games in the Classroom !!
What do I TRIM from the existing course !!
Maurice Leloir (1851-1940)