Applying DATEMATS Methods and Tools to Nanomaterials: A Design Challenge by the Company Antolin

Abstract

AbstractA current area of R&D focuses on developing optimal workshop methodologies which are based on didact-creative programmes specifically tailored to stimulate creative insight within participants, through the delivery of perfected techniques in both knowledge transfer and creative development sessions. The overarching goal of these methods is to develop and deliver new and useful projected applications of material properties and technologies which, when combined, can progress into new and previously unforeseen advancements in innovation across diverse fields of applicability. Here, contending technologies, whichever they may be, are presented to a select public of participants, followed by various collaborative creativity techniques whereby the assimilated information is collected, categorized and then reassimilated into new forms of innovative ordering, structuring and integrated storytelling. Although a number of creativity and technology building workshops exist, this particular study relates to the methods for developing new art applications from distinct physio-chemical traits found among a diverse collection of nanotech materials, including and in particular, carbon-based ones. An object of this paper is to disclose the specific didactic and creativity techniques used in a workshop setting which was performed in collaboration with the Antolin group who is a manufacturer and provider of helical carbon nanofibers. A further objective of this paper is to derive conclusive evaluations and insights regarding the successes and failures encountered during the knowledge transfer phases and their conversion into creative insights and market potential. Various creativity fostering strategies are presented as they were adopted through third-party mediated practices in similarity-finding, inductive and deductive reasoning, exercises in free-association/abstraction and visual Imagineering of scientifically supported product outcomes.