SoE Senior Design Thesis Research Assistance

Step 4 is about generating as many potential solutions as possible, without worrying (at first) about whether they’re perfect. The key is to let creativity flow while staying grounded in the problem you’re solving.

This step builds directly from problem identification because your brainstorming is guided by a clear understanding of what needs to be solved. For example, if the original problem was that a bridge must safely carry pedestrian traffic over a river, your brainstorming will focus on structural concepts that meet that need. Without the problem clearly defined, idea generation could drift into irrelevant or impractical directions.

It also connects back to the requirements and constraints from Step 3. While brainstorming, engineers can propose a wide range of concepts, but those ideas are shaped by what the solution must achieve (requirements) and what limits exist (constraints). For instance, you might generate ten different designs for the bridge, but you’ll quickly filter out any that exceed the budget, ignore safety standards, or don’t fit the site conditions.

Developing ideas often includes sketching, rough modeling, or using digital tools to start shaping the raw concepts into something more tangible. Collaboration is especially important in this stage—working in teams allows for diverse perspectives and helps uncover innovative solutions.

In short, brainstorming and idea development is where creativity meets direction: your understanding of the problem keeps your ideas relevant, and your requirements and constraints keep them realistic. This ensures that when you move into prototyping, you’re building from a solid foundation of ideas that can actually solve the problem.

The goal when you first start brainstorming ideas is to come up with as many ideas as possible - even if some seem unrealistic at first (call them 'perfect world scenarios'). Here are a few ways you and/or your team can try it out:

• Sketch it out
  • Don’t worry about being an artist—just grab a notebook or a whiteboard and start drawing rough sketches. For example, if you’re designing a low-cost prosthetic hand, you might draw different versions with unique joints, grips, or materials.
• Create a mind map
  • Write your main problem in the middle of a page (like “improving bike parking on campus”) and branch out with related ideas: materials, safety, space-saving, weather protection, and so on. It helps you see connections you might not have thought of at first.
• Do a rapid idea round
  • Go around your group and have everyone throw out as many ideas as they can, no judgment. If your project is a portable water filter, one person might suggest solar power, another might think of a collapsible design, and someone else might pitch low-cost local materials.
  • If you don't have a group for your capstone, your advisor or librarian would be happy to assist.
• Try the SCAMPER method
  • Use prompts to stretch your thinking:
    • Substitute: What if we used a different material?
    • Combine: Could two small ideas merge into one stronger solution?
    • Adapt: Has a similar solution been used in another field?
    • Modify: How could we make this design simpler, stronger, or smaller?
    • Put to another use: Could an everyday object help solve part of the problem?
    • Eliminate: What can be removed or simplified? Is there a way to better streamline the product?
    • Reverse: Would changing the sequence of effects produce a different outcome? What can be rearranged, flipped, or swapped?
• Build quick models
  • Sometimes it helps to test ideas with simple materials—cardboard, tape, popsicle sticks, or 3D prints. For example, if you’re designing a bridge, fold or stack paper strips into different shapes to see which structure holds the most weight.
• Step into the user’s shoes
  • Imagine you’re the person who will use your design. If your project is a medical device for nurses, act out how a nurse might use it during a busy shift. This can help you spot practical needs you might have missed.

​​​​​​​Remember: brainstorming isn’t about finding the perfect solution right away. It’s about generating lots of ideas first, then refining them later. The more creative and open you are in this stage, the stronger your final design will be.