CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Ideation is the process of generating a broad set of ideas on a given topic, with no attempt to judge or

evaluate them. When people ask the question “where ideas come from?” a simple answer could be ideation.

Ideation can vary in meaning depending on the context. It can be used interchangeably with idea generation.

Some academics like Samier, considers it to be a synonym with idea generation (2018). Some others

consider it a process, the process of generating (many) ideas (Kurokawa, 2015). It is a procedure with steps

and phases where ideas are generated through “ideation sessions”. In these sessions “ideation tools” are

being used. Tools such as prototyping, brainstorming, worst possible idea (and many others that are not

listed here) are being used to generate and produce ideas. Ideation is also a competency, and it can be

achieved to the mastery level. For instance, famous prolific architects have a very high competency in

ideation, so high that they have achieved mastery. Simply put, the sole purpose of ideation is to create

choices (Ling, 2015), which is something prolific architects excel. Ideation is an “unconscious competence”

for such individuals. Ideation is quite vital as it is a constituent element in design (Eastman et al., 2001,

p.67). It is also one of the stages (or steps) in design thinking (Ambrose, 2010; Ingle, 2013). Even though

ideation is indeed a stage in design thinking, it goes beyond that and it should not be considered only a phase

found exclusively in design thinking. Ideation as an independent domain, it is generally agreed that one of

the stages in design thinking is ideation. While in principle ideation in design thinking is the same concept as

ideation, it should be noted that idea generation is a genuine thinking activity that occurs throughout

designing, regardless phase or status. Ideation occurs even beyond designing, for example during client

interviews or presentations, a designer’s mind might be actively engaged in producing appropriate ideas for

the given circumstances. Ideation can also be regarded as a component of creativity. Creativity is generally

defined as the ability to generate novel and useful ideas (S. B. Kaufman, 2015). Usefulness has to do with

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evaluating the appropriateness of an idea, and if a novel idea seems suitable to a given situation or problem,

then the idea overall will be regarded as creative. If the aspect of usefulness is disregarded, and the focus is

only on the novelty aspect of creativity, then creativity, the ability to generate novel ideas is merely like

ideation. However, as creativity embeds “appropriateness” in its core, it also embeds judgment of ideas, in

order to evaluate and select the most suitable, or appropriate idea. It is vital to distinguish ideation from

creativity, as ideation is about suggestions and possibilities, whereas creativity is novelty and

appropriateness. However, ideation and creativity are an importance stage in creative design process among

architecture students. Current research, however, suggest that students experience design fixation and do not

place high value on creativity and ideation. However, barriers and blocks to ideation among architecture

student occur in several ways which will be discussed in this study.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Ideation can be blocked in several ways. First, if an architecture student does not have sufficient knowledge

(lack of research or enquiry) to address the design problem, their ideation will be severely limited. One of

the key theorized aspects of creativity is that it is combinatorial. Henri Poincar´e described invention as

examining useful combinations that present themselves to an inventor. Others have also described creativity

as “linking up ideas whose connection was not previously suspected”. In fact, many creative geniuses

describe the process as connected seemingly disparate ideas. The degree to which designers address the

problem definition prior to ideation can impact how well the question is addressed. In fact, the time spent on

this phase is one of the strongest predictors of design outcome. Ideation is also limited when designers only

choose to write and neglect sketching, which also excludes the change for designs to be improved by visual

thinking. Therefore, not sketching can be another block to ideation. Finally, not being in the right frame of

mind, such as being in a foul mood or feeling stressed about an unrelated issue, can also decrease the quality

and effectiveness of concept generation.

1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

i. What do students discuss as barriers to ideation and creativity in design thinking process they have

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experienced?

ii. what effect does barriers to ideation have on architectural students?

iii. how can barriers to ideation be remedied?

1.4 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The following are the aim of this study:

i. To examine the barriers to ideation in the creative design process of architectural students, resulting in

ways to help students know the various blocks to ideation.

ii. To examine students’ perspective on barriers to ideation.

iii. To examine how barriers to ideation affect architectural student creativity.

iv. To examine how barriers to ideation can make architectural students become unconsciously incompetent

in ideation

v. To assess the factors that lead to ideation blocks in architectural students.

1.5 JUSTIFICATION AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Researchers and instructors have long emphasized improving architectural students’ creativity, results show

that architectural students often do not develop these skills as undergraduates, nor do they value creativity as

an aspect of their architecture design process.

In order to help architecture students, nurture the ability and motivation to apply creative thought to their

architectural design projects, more work is needed to understand how architecture students perceive,

develop, and apply creativity. This study seeks to identify barriers to ideation and creativity from a student

perspective. In order to address this goal, this study should examine these barriers to ideation and offer

adequate solutions to these barriers.

Students should know the various barriers to ideation and how to deal with them consecutively.

This study should contribute to future research directions on researchers’ creativity.

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1.6 THEORETICAL/CONCEPTUAL FRAME WORK.

This research is presented in five chapters with each of these chapters focusing on providing a sustainable

residential design guide. The chapters are summarized below;

Chapter one- Introduction: is an introduction which gives an insight into the entire proposed project as a

background and concludes with a summary.

Chapter two- Literature review: presents a critical review of relevant literature previously undertaken in the

subject area of this research and also serve as detailed background to the thesis.

Chapter three- method and procedure: is the context of this research and the chapter highlights the effect of

barriers to ideation and creativity in creative design process among architecture student university of Jos.

Chapter four-Data presentation and analysis: the primary data is presented and steps taken to effectively

analyze and discuss the results in two main sections, with each section sub-divided into seven sub-themes in

accordance with the survey instruments.

Chapter five- conclusions and recommendations: The chapter draws out conclusions from its findings and

offers recommendations to stakeholders, as well as identify and suggest areas of interest to other academics

1.7 SCOPE OF STUDY

This study on the barriers to ideation in the creative design process among architecture

students in university of jos. And also, examine and identifying these barriers and preferring

adequate solutions to these barriers.

1.8 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

Barrier; refers to anything that impedes effective ideation and is used as an umbrella term throughout the

thesis.

Block; refers to neglecting to do a particularaction prior to ideation that would benefit the creative output.

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For example, a block would occur when a designer fails to learn the technical knowledge necessary to solve

a problem.

Creativity; the tendency to generate or recognize ideas, alternatives, or possibilities that may be useful in

solving design problems the use of imagination or original ideas to create something innovative or new

Design; a particular purpose or intention held in view by an individual or to create a plan or

sketch of something that is going to be made later especially a plan that details what the

finishing will be.

Ideation; is the process of generating a broad set of ideas on a given topic, with no attempt to judge or

evaluate them.

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BARRIERS TO IDEATION IN THE CREATIVE DESIGN PROCESS AMONG ARCHITECTURE

STUDENTS IN UNIVERSITY OF JOS.

UJ/2017/EV/0037

IGBAYUE DAVID VERLEM

JANUARY,2023.