Small changes, different options

In this episode, we explore a useful tool to guide changes in design.

If you’re wondering where to start, on making something new, one classic approach would be to use Genrich Altshuller’s TRIZ. The term ‘TRIZ’ is a Russian acronym for ‘Theory of Inventive Problem Solving’, and it’s been around since at least the 1960s. In essence, TRIZ is a structured checklist for factors or dimensions to tweak, in product-design and more - small changes that can then have useful outcomes.

For example, take a flat sheet of some material. If that material is strong enough to hold a shape, make a small change: for example, put a dent in it. Extend that dent, so it becomes cup-shaped: another small change that’s made it useful in a new way.

Looking at TRIZ, it might suggest that could could change the size.

What if you made that cup-shape larger? That would give you a bucket. Also useful.

What if you made it smaller? That would give you a thimble. Also useful.

What if you were precise in how you changed the size? That would give you a set of volume measures. Also useful.

And yes, that bucket is useful, but it occupies a fair bit of space, even when it’s empty. So look at TRIZ again. Another of its suggestions might be to change the hardness or softness. So perhaps what if you left that cup-shape at that bucket-size, but made it of softer material? If you get the softness right, and put some notch-lines in it, that would give you a collapsible bucket, that would be back at the large size when you wanted it to be large, but would flatten out for storage, occupying much less space. Definitely useful.

Look again at TRIZ for further ideas ideas for other small changes. One option might be to combine our cup-shape with another shape. For example, add a ring-shape to one side. That small make our cup more useful for some needs, because it would be easier to hold. We’d probably describe that new shape as a mug:

And we can then look to TRIZ to suggest other small changes, in the same structured way, to give us yet more options for that mug.

For example, change the material, so that we could see the contents, or make it easier to contain and carry liquids that are hot or cold:

Within the same type of material - metal, in this case - we could change the subtype of material, such as to stainless-steel, enamel-coated steel, or pewter:

We could change it by adding decoration - or change it back to no decoration at all:

Within the same type of shape, that cylinder with a handle, we could make small changes to the subtype of the shape - straight cylinder, expanding upward, notched, contracting upward:

We could do small changes to optimise the shape and materials for a single use - such as a beer-mug, in this case:

Or we could keep the same basic shape and materials, but make other small changes to adapt it for better fit to a different use:

Lots of ways to change things, create new options, adapt to new needs. All via small changes, step-by-step, all in a structured way. That’s TRIZ.

Useful, yes?

---

For more detail on TRIZ, and how to use it:

• articles and other learning-materials at TRIZ Journal

• the TRIZ 40 Principles matrix graphic on Wikipedia

• an interactive TRIZ matrix by TRIZ40

• a video by Kinetic Solutions on using TRIZ in service-design