Conceptual Design Ideation: The Influence of Sketch Ability

Abstract

We examine the role of sketching in conceptual design ideation through a comparative analysis a novice designer and a non-designer’s work in response to a typically ill-defined design problem. Results show the designer’s conceptual activity as characterised by significantly increased appositional reasoning; reasoning between design problem and solution ideation. In contrast, the activity of the non-design participant indicated significantly increased reasoning towards problem definition, with little evidence of solution ideation. Our findings indicate an ability to sketch as probable cause for both the novice designer’s increased solution-focused activity and iteration between problem definition and solution ideation. Implications for sketching’s potential as catalyst for abductive reasoning and appositional bridge-building between problem definition and solution ideation are briefly discussed.