Unlocking innovation

Hands-on tools such as building blocks boost creative thinking more than traditional pen and paper sketches, research has found.

The study aimed to investigate the best tools for engaging non-designers in design processes. Its findings indicate that by “assuring the widest possible representativity of the user pool” during the design phase, the end result will reflect more diverse perspectives and solutions will be more user-centric.

The research focused on creativity in the context of Design Thinking, which encourages focus on the people being created for – a human-centred, innovative approach to problem-solving. The design-based study aligns with Prospective Ergonomics (PE) concerns about actively engaging all possible users. PE focuses on anticipating future challenges rather than only solving existing problems.

For the study, 36 participants were tasked with producing two web interface designs, using pen and paper and LEGO blocks and figures.

The researchers noted: “While pen and paper yielded a greater quantity of ideas, they fell short in generating a broader spectrum of idea categories or more original concepts. “Using a tangible tool resulted in more elaborate proposals. Figurative tangibles appear to exhibit a greater affordance for divergent thinking compared to pen and paper, despite imposing a higher cognitive effort on participants.”

The study suggests tangible tools such as blocks foster more creativity, while the hands-on approach boosts divergent thinking. Such low-cost tools could help organisations make brainstorming sessions more inclusive and boost results. The authors state: “This research underscores the importance of selecting appropriate tools for diverse participants to maintain the creative potential of all involved, and perhaps figurative tangibles can be of support.”

The study, Empowering non-designers with tangible tools for divergent thinking, was carried out by researchers in Montreal, Canada.