What is Creative Method

The purpose of this chapter is to define the roles of engineering and design within the product development cycle looking at both the scientific and artistic methods used by the creators of new ideas. With the vastly different philosophies of product development between the engineer and the designer, the production manager is often faced with an ubiquitous tension that is frequently misdirected and mismanaged. The disparate design philosophies tend to force companies to pick either “science” or “art” in their development cycles which in turn creates either products that have no connection with human beings or products that cannot conceivably be produced on this planet. This chapter addresses these concerns and suggests methods in managing the creative insanity of successful product design.