1. DIRECTED RESEARCH:
Disruptive Hypotheses: Pre-empt Assumptions
Ron Zisman
Directed Research
Instructor: Prof. Tom Klinkowstein
Summer 2011

2. PROBLEM:
Current design work is pragmatic, but lacks ‘wow’
factor.
Find or develop a (design) methodology that encourages unexpected or untried
approaches to problems leading to more interesting solutions and providing
insight into a personal ‘signature’ or ‘voice’.

3. HYPOTHESIS:
This thesis presents the hypothesis that applying
disruptive strategies interrupt habitual thinking and
create space for fresh interpretations.
People tend to classify a situation quickly leading to predictable responses. By
forcing a ‘stop’ to the process at prescribed intervals, space is created for
interrogation, analysis and new understandings. As this exploration is authentic,
solutions are more interesting and reveal the creators point-of-view. The addition
of intention—to see anew—provides an anchor to make the process more wakeful,
informed and personal.

4. REFERENCE I:
Tibor Kalman—M&Co.
It is the deviated form that draws attention and
produces something memorable.
“By definition, when you make something no one hates, no one loves it. I’m
interested in imperfections, quirkiness, insanity, unpredictability. That’s what we
really pay attention to anyway. We don’t talk about planes flying; we talk about
them crashing.”
www.aiga.org/medalist-tiborkalman/

5. REFERENCE II:
Luke Williams—Frog Design
Disruptive hypotheses are designed to upset
comfortable equilibrium and bring about an
accelerated change in thinking.
A disruptive hypothesis is an intentionally unreasonable statement that gets your
thinking flowing in a different direction. The process hinges on three steps:
Defining the situation; searching for cliches; and twisting those cliches to find new
ways of seeing them. Its about thinking about what is usually ignored, and paying
attention to what’s not obvious.
http://www.fastcodesign.com/1663970/innovation-starts-with-disruptive-hypotheses-heres-how-to-create-one

6. REFERENCE III:
Amy Goodman—Democracy Now!
Developed innovative model of truly independent
political journalism that brings to millions of
people the alternative voices that are often
excluded by mainstream media.
Democracy Now! is an independently syndicated program of news, analysis
and opinion aired by more than 900 radio, television, satellite and cable
networks in North America. The program is funded entirely through
contributions from listeners, viewers, and foundations and does not accept
advertising, corporate underwriting or government funding.
http://www.democracynow.org/

7. OUTLINE:
Problem
Hypothesis
Methodology
Defination
Disruption
Identifying & Interrogating Cliches
Critical Analysis
Idea Generation
Idea Selection
Implementation
Process
Goals
A set of systematic techniques for changing concepts and perceptions
and generating new ones.
Conclusion

8. RESEARCH STRATEGY:
Readings
Authors: Luke Williams, Rene Girard, Dan Pink, Clayton Christensen,
Robert Ditts, Graham Wallas, Edward de Bono, Walter Diethelm, Alan
Fletcher, Bob Gill
Subjects: Creativity, Originality, Innovation, Meditation, Psychology,
Inspiration, Design Process, Disruptive Thinking, Lateral Thinking,
Design Thinking, Convergent & Divergent Thinking

9. VALORISED DESIGNER I:
Designers needs to see their role in the broader
context of contributing to the overall health of
community and the environment.

10. VALORISED DESIGNER II:
Designers need to fuse the practical aspects of
design theory and practice with a sense of
responsibility for the sociological and ecological
implications of their work.

11. VALORISED DESIGNER III:
Designers should be prepared to play an
interventional role encouraging clients to become
pro-active in developing sustainable production
practices.