Assignment: Stanford University A Crash Course in Creativity Helen Carpenter / Kenya Nelson

1. Connect and Combine
Chindogu
Team: Shaped for Purpose
(Kenya Nelson / Helen Carpenter)

2. Chindogu – What is it?
Literally translated, the Japanese word “chindogu” means
“unusual tool”. This name reflects the art of creating
everyday gadgets that are ideal for solving particular
problems
Chindogu have no utility at all, either because they would
cause many more new problems and or would be extremely
embarrassing to use.

3. Tenants of Chindogu
1. A Chindogu cannot be
for real use
2. A Chindogu must exist
3. Inherent in every
Chindogu is the spirit of
anarchy
4. Chindogu are tools for
everyday life
5. Chindogu are not for
sale
6. Humor must not be the
sole reason for creating
a Chindogu
7. Chindogu is not
propaganda
8. Chindogu are never
taboo
9. Chindogu cannot be
patented
10. Chindogu are without
prejudice

4. Popular Chindogu Ideas
BabySweeper/Duster
ButterStick
TissueHat – Cold/Flu
Portable Toilet Paper Roll
FanChopStick
UmbrellaShowerCurtain

5. Team Shaped for Purpose - Chindogu Ideas
Object 1 Object 2 Use
Garden bench Rubik's Cube A work utility - rotate elements of the garden bench so it
becomes a table, a platform to kneel on while gardening, a
storage box etc
Kettle Roller Skate Heated moveable platform that you can place food on and push
it up and down the table with break locks
Bush Door Handle A cleaning device that can get in hard to reach places
Remote
Control
Shoe Remote controlled „shoe/casing‟ that you could fit to any object
(or person) and move them about by remote control!
Diary Coat A cover for a notebook to stop it getting wet if it‟s being used
outdoors, on a boat…
Mirror Coconut Shell A reflective bowl that couples up as a musical instrument when
not being used
Pants Pot Warmers Kneeling tool for gardening on your knees without aches and
pains. You could also use for praying
Light Bulb Pencil A pencil with a light on the end so that you can write in dark
places
Shiskabob
Stick
Craft Flower Use as a stem to create faux flower….the pointy tip makes it
easy to stick into anything.

6. And the WINNER
is…..
Light Bulb
Pencil