[...]... Courier Westford, Westford, MA THINKING CRITICALLY and yes, design interiors Interior designers naturally consider themselves to be creative thinkers The purpose of design, they are often told, is to create Creative thinking is certainly essential to interior design problem solving Creative thinking is not the same as critical thinking Critical thinking involves analyzing and planning and is quite... focus Critical thinking also encourages the application of logic and left-brained thinking Creative thinking encourages willingness to change and see things differently, generating new ideas and flexibility It is subjective in focus and is quite rightbrained Naturally, creative thinking is important for interior designers to solve the problems of their clients Critical thinking is necessary to analyze and. .. commercial space Thinking critically expands the designer’s value to clients, improves business performance, and indeed makes a better citizen P1: KCV/KCV c01 P2: ABC JWBT456-Piotrowski 10 January 24, 2011 15:5 Printer Name: Courier Westford, Westford, MA THINKING CRITICALLY FOR DISCUSSION These discussion items and scenario cases require you to use critical thinking to solve one or more problems In many... needs, solving difficult space plans, making business decisions, and dealing with clients and others with interests in the project P1: KCV/KCV c01 P2: ABC JWBT456-Piotrowski January 24, 2011 15:5 Printer Name: Courier Westford, Westford, MA THINKING CRITICALLY 3 So what is critical thinking? Critical thinking “consists of an awareness of a set of interrelated critical questions, plus the ability and willingness... “best” for the project How do you evaluate the information provided by others? By asking questions, being observant, and evaluating the information related to the needs of the project and client Thinking critically helps you keep the project on a profitable and effective track Creative Thinking Creativity and creative thinking is imagining something new from something that already exists It is looking for. .. your profession As you will see, thinking critically impacts many of the tasks associated with the interior design process WHAT IS CRITICAL THINKING? Critical thinking is highly valued by the business community, including, of course, the design professions Students, entry-level, and practicing designers need to learn to think more carefully and critically Thinking critically impacts you in many ways,... January 24, 2011 15:39 Printer Name: Courier Westford, Westford, MA PREFACE xi have many positive attributes, yet the less experienced professionals have a hard time performing comprehensive problem solving and critical thinking To be honest, it is not just the newest professional who lacks these skills Many designers have forgotten how the process of problem solving makes a positive impact on the effective... fabrics, for example, can affect the health, safety, and welfare of the clients and other users of interiors Violating local laws by deciding not to obtain required licenses impacts the individual, her business, and her professional standing and the client P1: KCV/KCV c01 P2: ABC JWBT456-Piotrowski January 24, 2011 15:5 Printer Name: Courier Westford, Westford, MA THINKING CRITICALLY 5 Critical Thinking. .. clients hire interior designers is for their creative skills However, interior design is also a profession that requires thinking critically, problem solving, and decision making, as well as creativity Some might say that these skills are the primary responsibility and pursuit of the interior designer Design work involves looking for solutions to problems What do I mean by problem? A problem is some difficulty... and perspectives Other tasks include researching information, such as applicable codes And, of course, tasks also involve critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making Design problems for the interior designer involve all areas of design practice, such as planning and design, product specification, P1: KCV/KCV c02 P2: ABC JWBT456-Piotrowski January 11, 2011 17:3 Printer Name: Courier Westford, . Courier Westford, Westford, MA P1: OTA/XYZ P2: ABC fm JWBT456-Piotrowski January 24, 2011 15:39 Printer Name: Courier Westford, Westford, MA Problem Solving and Critical Thinking for Designers Christine. Courier Westford, Westford, MA Contents Preface ix Acknowledgments xiii CHAPTER 1 Thinking Critically 1 What Is Critical Thinking? 2 Who Is a Critical Thinker? 4 The Importance of Thinking Critically. Westford, Westford, MA 4 THINKING CRITICALLY different from thinking critically. More about this perception ap- pears later in this chapter. WHO IS A CRITICAL THINKER? Developing critical thinking