This slideshare was presented at the Fedustria Sustech event. This event focussed on sustainable solutions for the furniture industry. In this slideshare we explain how we use abstract thinking to solve concrete problems and how it can accelerate your innovation process. Hope you like it! Fedustria is a trade organization for Belgian companies involved in the textile and apparel, woodworking and furniture industries.

1. ABSTRACT thinking
for
CONCRETE
solu.ons
@creaxnv
Examples
are
focusing
on
the
following
topics.
§ Design
for
disassembly
§ Modularity
§ Dematerializa.on

2. CLASSICAL
DESIGN
PROCESS
Research
Concept
Design

3. CLASSICAL
DESIGN
PROCESS
Research
Concept
Design
FUZZY
FOCUS

4. CLASSICAL
DESIGN
PROCESS
Research
Concept
Design
FUZZY
FOCUS
The
classical
design
process
is
oOen
unstructured
in
the
beginning,
companies
loose
.me,
resources
and
focus.
This
phase
is
referred
to
as
the
fuzzy
front-­‐end
of
innova.on.

5. STRUCTURED
DESIGN
PROCESS
Research
Concept
Design
FOCUS
FUZZY
At
CREAX
we
believe
a
structured
innova.on
method
can
help
you
in
simplifying
this
difficult
process.

6. How
to
unfuzzy
the
fuzzy
front-­‐
end?

7. Abstract
thinking.

8. Abstract
thinking.
Abstract
thinking
can
help
you
in
structuring
the
innova.on
process,
however
the
formula.on
in
it
itself
is
also
kind
of
abstract…
In
this
presenta.on
you’ll
discover
a
prac.cal
checklist
for
abstract
thinking
for
concrete
idea
genera.on.

9. The
product
on
this
slide
is
an
innova.ve
safety
knife
by
Slice.
Let’s
try
to
describe
it.

10. curved
textured
blunt
hollow
Each
product
can
be
described
by
a
combina.on
of
its
proper.es,
we
call
this
it’s
product
DNA.
Method by AULIVE

11. to
protect
to
grip
to
hang
to
grip
to
avoid
injury to
store
knives
No.ce
the
rela.on
between
each
property
&
func.on.
The
func.on
of
a
product
is
defined
by
the
specific
combina.on
of
its
proper.es.

12. 20
generic
proper.es
to
solve
problems
Method by AULIVE

13. 20
generic
proper.es
to
solve
problems
In
the
fiOies
a
Russian,
scien.st
Genrich
Altshuller,
discovered
a
list
of
trends
of
evolu-on
to
solve
all
problems
in
the
world.
These
trends
were
based
on
the
solu.ons
described
in
patents.
At
CREAX
we
use
these
property
changes
as
checklist
to
force
our
product
in
all
possible
idea
direc.ons
and
thus
accelera.ng
our
innova.on
process.
Method by AULIVE

14. 14
All problems?
Because
of
this
level
abstrac.on
the
systema.c
method
is
able
to
generate
solu.ons
across
all
products
and
industries.
So
yes
Angus,
all
problems.

15. Let’s
look
at
some
examples
in
the
following
fields.
Design
for
disassembly
Modularity
Dematerializa.on

16. Let’s
look
at
some
examples
in
the
following
fields.
Design
for
disassembly
Modularity
Dematerializa.on

17. INTEGRATION
Mono
system
Bi
system
Polysystem
This
table
has
an
integrated
zipper
for
assembly.
Zip
me
up
Method by AULIVE

18. Benjamin Vermeulens Flatpac

19. Benjamin Vermeulens Flatpac
STATE
Solid
Liquid/gas
Field
Dutch
designer
Benjamin
Vermeulen
got
inspired
by
the
inability
of
some
people
to
assemble
IKEA
furniture.
He
explored
different
routes
to
make
this
even
more
easy.
His
Flatpac
series
have
magne.c
connec.on
points
and
just
click
in
place.
Even
the
hinges
are
integrated
by
these
magnets.
Method by AULIVE

20. SURFACE
Smooth
surface
2D
protrusions
3D
protrusions
Quinze
&
Milan
integrated
the
screw
func.on
in
the
legs
of
the
chair.
A
simple
surface
modifica.on
makes
sure
the
chair
can
be
assembled
without
tools.
Method by AULIVE

21. I 21
COORDINATION
Non-­‐coordinated
ac.on
Coordinated
ac.on
Ac.on
during
intervals
By
using
shape
memory
polymers
products
can
ac.vely
be
disassembled.
As
soon
these
plugs
and
screws
are
heated
they
change
shape
and
the
products
disintegrate.
This
coordinated
ac.on
offers
an
alterna.ve
to
the
conven.onal
shredding
process.
Method by AULIVE

22. COORDINATION
Non-­‐coordinated
ac.on
Coordinated
ac.on
Ac.on
during
intervals
In
case
the
Volkswagen
XL1
arrives
on
its
roof
explosive
make
sure
the
doors
are
removed
and
passengers
can
escape.
This
coordinated
ac.on
is
used
by
the
NASA
to
remove
fuel
tanks
from
the
space
shufle.
Method by AULIVE

23. Design
for
disassembly
Modularity
Dematerializa.on

24. Land peel by Yamashita
SURFACE
Smooth
surface
2D
protrusions
3D
protrusions
Method by AULIVE

25. Land peel by Yamashita
SURFACE
Smooth
surface
2D
protrusions
3D
protrusions
A
carpet
is
nothing
more
than
a
flexible,
rectangular
piece
of
fabric.
However
by
changing
its
surface
it
can
be
transferred
in
a
chair,
table
or
desk.
Method by AULIVE

26. SEGMENTATION
Monolithic
Segmented
Powder
Method by AULIVE

27. SEGMENTATION
Monolithic
Segmented
Powder
Electronic
devices
are
not
designed
to
last
and
get
thrown
away.
Usually
it’s
only
one
of
the
components
which
causing
the
problem.
Phonebloks
offers
the
possibility
to
exchange
component
by
component,
which
we
call
segmenta.on
of
your
product.
Phonebloks
was
taken
over
by
Motoral
and
is
now
in
development.
Method by AULIVE

28. Design
for
disassembly
Modularity
Dematerializa.on

29. I
SMART
AUDITORIUM
CHAIR
29
Jumpseat by Ziba
FLEXIBILITY
Immobile
Mul.ple
joints
Completely
flexible
Method by AULIVE

30. I
SMART
AUDITORIUM
CHAIR
30
Jumpseat by Ziba
FLEXIBILITY
Immobile
Mul.ple
joints
Completely
flexible
To
conserve
space
in
their
new
auditorium
Ziba
had
to
be
crea.ve.
They
used
a
combina.on
of
flexible
plywood
and
sheet
steel
as
an
alterna.ve
to
movie
theatre
sea.ng.
This
flexible
sea.ng
nearly
disappears
when
not
in
use.
Method by AULIVE

31. OPPOSITES
Method by AULIVE

32. Challenging
dominant
logic.
Why
should
the
legs
of
table
be
fixed
to
the
table
top?
By
using
opposite
forces
this
table
is
both
fixed
and
loose
at
the
same
.me.
Method by AULIVE

33. SURFACE
SURFACE
Smooth
surface
2D
protrusions
3D
protrusions
Method by AULIVE

34. Method by AULIVE
SURFACE
SURFACE
Smooth
surface
2D
protrusions
3D
protrusions
Glue
is
geing
banned
from
most
industries
and
researchers
are
looking
for
alterna.ves.
Inspired
by
the
gecko’s
ability
to
scale
even
the
smoothest
surface
scien.sts
are
designing
glueless
tapes.
The
surface
of
it’s
toes
seem
to
be
the
secret.

35. Self assembling chair
35
AUTOMATION
Human
Human
+
automated
tool
Fully
automated
tool
Method by AULIVE

36. 36
Noumenon
Designer
Carl
Desmet
has
used
a
shape
memory
polymer
to
make
this
chair.
The
chair
is
compressed
and
transported
flat,
but
by
the
addi.on
of
heat
the
chair
automa.cally
gets
its
final
shape.
Method by AULIVE

37. SEGMENTATION
Monolithic
Segmented
Powder
Nervous Kinematics
Method by AULIVE

38. SEGMENTATION
Monolithic
Segmented
Powder
Nervous Kinematics
Method by AULIVE

39. SEGMENTATION
Monolithic
Segmented
Powder
Nervous Kinematics
Kinema.cs
is
a
system
for
3D
prin.ng
that
creates
complex,
foldable
forms
composed
of
connected
modules.
Because
of
this
segmenta.on
tex.le
crea.ons
bigger
than
the
3d
printer
build
volume
can
be
produced.
Method by AULIVE

40. PROPERTY
FUNCTION
RELATION
What
do
I
change,
what
do
I
gain?

41. SYSTEMATIC
INNOVATION
WWW.CREAX.COM
Inspired?
We
help
companies
with
their
innova.on
challenges.
problem
solving
–
product
innova.on
–
process
innova.on
technology
transfer
–
new
applica.ons
and
markets
Diederik
Syoen
-­‐
Marke.ng
Manager
ds@creax.com
www.creax.com
t
+32
(0)
56
23
94
94