A talk/workshop about abstraction in innovation.

1. ABSTRACTION IN INNOVATION Shimon Shmueli
Touch360

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Design a solution
to the problem in
this picture

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Problem Solution

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“If I had an hour to solve a
problem I'd spend 55
minutes thinking about the
problem and 5 minutes
thinking about solutions.”
- Albert Einstein

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Problem Solution
Einstein: think about the problem

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“The greatest challenge to
any thinker is stating the
problem in a way that will
allow a solution.”
- Bertrand Russell

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Problem Solution
Einstein: think about the problem
Russell: have a clear definition of the problem

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Problem
Definition
SolutionChallenge
Problem Solution

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THE DOUBLE DIAMOND PROCESS
identify & define the right problem design & refine the solution
Challenge Solution
Problem
Abstraction
Divergent
Thinking
Convergent
Thinking

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ABSTRACTING DESIGN THINKING
ThinkingChallenge
• Ambiguous/not well-defined
• Unbounded uncertainties
• Systems with fuzzy boundaries
• Intuition and qualitative allowed
• Iterations: build, test, redesign…
• Immerse in the system: observations, empathy
• Revisiting basics allowed
• Human-centered
• Holistic
DesignThinking
Problem
Characteristics
Solution
Process
Results
Desired

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WHAT IS ABSTRACTION?
Elsa

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WHAT IS ABSTRACTION? Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Canidae
Genus: Canis
Species: Lupus
Subspecies: Familiaris
Source: Wikipedia
Source: dept.sfcollege.edu

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SINGLE-FUNCTION ABSTRACTION

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MULTI-FUNCTION ABSTRACTION
www.dogpoopsigns.com

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HOLISTIC SYSTEM ABSTRACTION
www.dogpoopsigns.com

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ABSTRACT
Pablo Picasso, Painter and knitting Model, 1927

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ABSTRACT
Portrait of Marie-Thérèse Walter, Picasso, 1927

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ABSTRACT
Marie-Thérèse Walter Marie-Thérèse Walter

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The Adventures of Picasso
Tage Danielsson, 1978

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Wassily Kandinsky (1866 -1944)
ABSTRACTION IN ART: GEOMETRIC

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ABSTRACTION IN ART: CUBISM
Jean Metzinger (1883 - 1913

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ABSTRACTION IN ART: TERMINALISM
MikeBain/TheAtlantic-CityLab

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MikeBain/TheAtlantic-CityLab

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ABSTRACTION IN ART: TERMINALISM
MikeBain/TheAtlantic-CityLab
Reagan Logan JFK

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PabloPicasso,TheBull,lithography,1945

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ADVICE FROM PICASSO
Start with concrete reality – preserve the “bullness”
Source:SparksofGeniusbyRobertandMicheleRoot-Bernstein

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Roy Lichtenstein, 1989

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Roy Lichtenstein, 1963

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ABSTRACTION IN DESIGN

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ABSTRACTION IN DESIGN
• Form simplification
• Functional clarity
• Brand essence

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ABSTRACTION IN DESIGN
• Form simplification?
• function clarity?
• Brand essence?
TechfastLunch&Dinner

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www.a-silberstein.fr
Watch design
by Alain Silberstein

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ABSTRACTION IN SYSTEMS

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ABSTRACTION IN SOFTWARE: VIRTUALIZATION
Physical
Software
Hardware
Virtual
Hardware
API
Functions

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ABSTRACTION IN OBJECT-ORIENTED PROGRAMMING
Animals
Dogs
Poodles
John
Harry
Great Danes
Horses Fish

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ABSTRACTION IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING?
www.airliners.net
Boeing 707 throttle

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ABSTRACTION IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING?
Wikipedia
Airbus 320 fly-by wire throttle

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ABSTRACTION IN CHIP DESIGN
Intel

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OPEN SYSTEMS INTERCONNECTION (OSI) MODEL
Source:fcc.gov

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WHAT IS ABSTRACTION?
Many-to-One Function
Abstraction
Domain A
Systems, Ideas, Forms…
A1
A2
A3
A4
A5
Preserve some
characteristics,
essence, control

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WHAT IS ABSTRACTION?
Many-to-One Function
Abstraction
Domain A
Systems, Ideas, Forms…
A1
A2
A3
A4
A5
Irreversible: loss of
details, inability to
reconstruct origin,…

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BUT IT ENABLES CREATIVITY

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WHAT IS ABSTRACTION?
Many-to-One Function
Abstraction
Bulls Domain
Or any other systems, ideas, forms…
Bull 1
Bull 2
Bull 3
Bull 4Bull 5
D3
Other domains
D1
D2
One-to-One Functions
Bull 6

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ABSTRACTION IN OTHER DOMAINS (ANALOGIES)
A product with:
• Handle
• Cleaner

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ABSTRACTION IN OTHER DOMAINS (ANALOGIES)
A product with:
• Handle
• Cleaner
• Flexible joint

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Aha!

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Why Abstract for Innovation?

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A-FRAME SIGNS

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A-FRAME SIGNS

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A-FRAME SIGNS

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A-FRAME SIGNS

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DESIGN A SIGN
Design a new
street sign for the
new restaurant in
the picture.

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What Do Vacuum
Cleaners Do?
They don’t vacuum,
they clean!

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WHY ABSTRACT?
• Escape the language gravity

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ESCAPING LANGUAGE GRAVITY
contact interface

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HOT
COLD

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WHY ABSTRACT?
• Escape the language gravity
• Disassociate from rooted associations

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WHAT’S NOT HOW’S

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WHAT’S NOT HOW’S

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If you think in
terms of a peeler
you are most likely
to get more blade
holders.

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Rene Magritte, 1929

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WHY ABSTRACT?
• Escape the language gravity
• Disassociate from rooted associations
• Focus on the desired function,
not the existing solution

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Details can kill
innovation
This is a much better
starting point

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BIRTH OF A BUILDING
Base
5
floors
Stage
1
15
floors
Stage
2
Crane
Building
25
floors

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DEATH OF A CRANE
Crane
Building
25
floors
Base
Stage
1
Stage
2

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OPEN YOUR EYES!

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shimon@pdx.edu