Objects from familiar environment that demonstrated Analogical thinking

Analogical thinking is what we do when we use information from one domain to help solve a problem in another domain (cr. Cognitive Psychology). In this article, i will introduce some objects create from familiar environment that demonstrated analogical thinking.

Round and flat stump give designer idea to tern them into chairs and tables. It is normal see this kind of table in Chinese KongFu Tea shops. It makes customers feel natural.

Infinity pool is also demonstrated analogical thinking from familiar environment which is sea. People swimming in the infinity pool feel's like they are swimming in the sea. Because they are both infinity.

Pebbles in the brook become a bath design. In a natural style bathroom, designer make the washbasin like pebble. When water come out from the faucet, it is similar to brook flow through pebbles.

Existing products discover relationships to other objects

There are lot of new design products have relationships to other objects or image. Designer combine two unrelated thing together and created a new thing.

This is a doorknob with hand shape. When you are opening the door, it is like holding someone's hand. It is very creative.

This is a key with bracelet shape. It become more convenient. You will not lost your key because you can wearing it like wearing a bracelet.

 This is a creative bookshelf. It is easy to find out the designer was inspirited by trees. He make branches become the shelf hold books. This design is beautiful and practical.

[Class exercise] Chickens & Bee Questions

Question 1

You have a neighbour who raises chickens for a living. he lets his chickens run freely in his back garden. but as there is a hole in the fence. The chickens are always wandering into your garden where they damage your beautiful plants and flowers. You have asked your neighbour many times to fix his fence but he won't listen.

What would you do to solve this problem without offending your neighbour?

Solutions

• Deeper the hole so when chicken fall in they cannot climb out. 
• Put a gate in front of the hole/flowers.
• Make another hole then put a chicken size tube connect both tube so chickens will go back. 
• Catch chickens than cook/sell them.
• Put chicken food in front of the hole in neighbour's house.

Question 2

Imagine this room: the window on the at the back is open. in front of the window there is a table with a vase, in which a fresh rose stands. A painting of flowers hangs on the opposite wall (at the whiteboard area). 

A bee flies into the room through the open window, straight to the painting and not the rose. Why?

Solutions

• The painting have more flowers
• Bee do not like rose.
• There are perfume on the panting.
• The bee is myopic, cannot see things clear.
• There is a boy bee in the painting, so the girl bee fly straight to find the boy bee.