Physical Thinking:
Work with physical materials that will make designs build and look more interesting and sensible. Draw an initial plan or experiment with elements of design, build on this design using real/found materials that are 3-D or tangible, arrange them to create interesting patterns, textures and shapes. Look at your design through new eyes with the help of a camera, photograph it from different angles and experiment with what happens when you crop the design so it looks new and different. Add an concept and any other tweaks or materials that may be needed to communicate clearly then blend and refine the design.
Take the Matter Outside:
Break away from the digital world and see how your design holds up in a physical/outdoors environment. Think about how the physical properties will react to being exposed to the elements. Adapt your design to fair well in the climate that it will be displayed. Take it outside and make any revisions necessary.
Unconventional Tools:
Don't get too comfortable using pens, pencils and computers, experiment with other more creative options that could render unique results. Go through a simple concept phase where you determine what forms and elements will be needed for the design. Put down the pencil and stay away from the computer, break the habit. Gather your tools and then narrow them down to the ones that will work the best then use these tools to create and communicate.
Regurgitation:
Restore and recycle old materials to create new designs. Take a walk and take with you a plastic bag, camera and a sketchbook. Collect materials and date either by actually gathering them or capturing them with camera or drawing. Study the qualities and functions of these objects, ask questions. Transform the object and think about it's essence. Document the process and results. Edit what you have and use it to communicate or create an interesting design.
Reconstruction:
Take things apart and then put them back together in a unique way. Collect initial material the is interesting or has meaning to you. Take about your material. Observe and note any details that stand out to you in this process. Create a dictionary of elements. Configure the object in new ways.
