It is difficult to analyse exactly what makes some people creative as there are many influencing factors. However, there are several techniques which may stimulate creative thinking.
Brainstorming
This popular technique uses group interaction to stimulate ideas. More...
See The Big Picture
Try to see the overall picture. More...
Sleep On It
The old adage "Sleep It" often produces results. More...
Look For Problems
If there isn't a problem there is no need for a solution. More...
Brainstorming is a popular ideas generation technique not only used in design and engineering but in many other fields. If properly used some good ideas may result, but, there is a danger brainstorming sessions can degenerate and end up producing very little.
Brainstorming seems to work best with small groups of around six people. If there are more people who would like to contribute then it may be better to split the process into several sessions.
The mix of team members is important. It is preferable to have groups of like minded people who should at least feel comfortable with each other. For example, have a group of assertive, dominant characters and another comprising the more reserved people.
For a broad generation of ideas, say at an early stage in a project, the team members could be from various disciplines eg design engineering, industrial design, marketing, production and purchasing. For ideas which need to be more specifically focused then the team members could be from the one or two functional areas, which have expertise with the issue at hand.
It is important that everyone feels uninhibited and to avoid having one person dominate proceedings. A good humoured, informal atmosphere is desirable.
The moderator (whoever calls the session) should provide an initial overview to ensure everyone clearly understands the problem. Each member of the group is then asked to express any ideas which relate to the issue, no matter how stupid they sound.
Every idea is recorded without judgement or criticism to maintain a free flow of ideas. Occasionally there may be interchanges of thoughts as ideas spark off each other, generating further, often better, ideas. The sessions usually come to a natural end after around 40 minutes.
Following the brainstorming, the ideas are collated and examined, perhaps by the moderator alone or by another smaller team. Any ideas with potential are selected for further, more critical, evaluation.
Necessity is the mother of invention
"A need or problem encourages creative efforts to meet the need or solve the problem."
Plato.
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