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Creativity and scientific discovery with infused design and its analysis with C–K theory

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Abstract

Creativity is central to human activity and is a powerful force in personal and organizational success. Approaches to supporting creativity are diverse and numerous. The only way to understand the diversity and utility of these methods is through their careful analysis. The analysis conducted in this paper is done with the aid of a theory. As a first step, we use infused design (ID) method to generate new concepts and methods in the classic discipline of statics, in addition to its prior use in the generation of a number of creative designs. The use of the ID method in the creative scientific discovery process is modeled with C–K design theory, leading to better understanding of ID and C–K. The exercise in this paper illustrates how the synthesis of a theory, a framework, and methods that support discovery and design is useful in modeling and evaluation of creativity methods. Several topics for future research are described in the discussion.

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Notes

  1. The A.T. Yang Memorial Award in Theoretical Kinematics was awarded to the discovery described in this paper at the 29th Biennial Mechanisms and Robotics Conference in Long Beach, CA, September 2005.

  2. Note that the potential difference and flows correspond to across and through variables used in control theory (Shearer et al. 1971).

  3. In 2-dimensional kinematics and statics, both representations could be used.

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Acknowledgments

This work was partially supported by the Design theory and methods for innovation Chair of Mines ParisTech and by a Visiting Professorship Grant from the Faculty of Technology Policy and Management at the Technical University of Delft.

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Correspondence to Offer Shai.

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Shai, O., Reich, Y., Hatchuel, A. et al. Creativity and scientific discovery with infused design and its analysis with C–K theory. Res Eng Design 24, 201–214 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00163-012-0137-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00163-012-0137-x

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