This document discusses different types of analogical thinking strategies that can be used for creative problem solving. It describes similes, metaphors and analogies, and four specific types of analogies: personal, direct, symbolic, and fantasy. Personal analogies involve imagining yourself as the object to understand its feelings and problems. Direct analogies compare object properties. Symbolic analogies examine properties abstractly. Fantasy analogies use far-fetched ideas without normal boundaries. Exercises are provided to practice these analogical thinking techniques.

1. Creative Thinking
Week 9

2. Introduction
Similes, metaphors and analogies are thinking strategies that
provide new ideas for problem-solving by making associations
between objects that seem dissimilar.
Also known as figure of speech
Help generate new concepts by attaching unforeseen
connections to familiar ones.

3. Analogical Thinking
1) Similes
2) Metaphors
3) Analogies
I) Personal Analogy
ii) Direct Analogy
Iii) Symbolic Analogy
iv) Fantasy Analogya comparison between two things,
typically on the basis of their
structure and for the purpose of
explanation or clarification.
"an analogy between the workings of
nature and those of human societies"

4. 1) Simile
Uses ‘likeness’ to establish a connection.
……. like a …….
“ sleeping like a log”

5. “design a computer (target) that is like a book (source)”

6. • 2) Metaphors and similes are both ways to compare things. We use
metaphors and similes every day, but it can be hard to remember just which is
which.
• A metaphor is when you say something is something.
• A simile is when you say something is like something.
• For example, let's say you have a mean stepfather. If you say, "my stepfather is a
bear," that's a metaphor. But if you say, "my stepfather is like a bear," that's a
simile.
Similes Metaphors
her hair was like silk her hair was silk
As mean as Oscar the Grouch meaner than Oscar the Grouch
the ship went down like lead dead fish are polished marble
light as a feather those figures are fishy
busy as a bee car salesmen are sharks
her gaze was like ice her gaze was icy

7. 3) Analogy
is comparable to metaphor and simile in that it shows how
two different things are similar, but it’s a bit more complex.
I) Personal analogy
ii) Direct analogy
Iii) Symbolic analogy
iv) Fantasy analogy
a comparison between two things,
typically on the basis of their
structure and for the purpose of
explanation or clarification.
"an analogy between the workings of
nature and those of human societies"

8. I) PERSONAL ANALOGY
1) Describe the object by listing its
basic characteristics
• 2) Describe the emotions the object
might have in a given situation
• 3) Describe how someone feels
when using the object
• 4) Describe what it feels like to be
the object
self as object
problem-solver imagines himself being the object under examination and
attempt to uncover the feelings and problems faced by the object.
Bert Loeschner – Monobloc Chair, 2012

9. Personal analogy of a glass of wine
• Characteristics
– clear, fruity, abit heavy
• Emotions
– happy at dinner,
– friendly at parties
• Feeling when using
– sophisticated
– tired
• Object's feelings
– wanted, important

10. (ii) DIRECT ANALOGY
compares object's properties to properties of other objects.
The invention of Velcro brand fasteners.
Invented in 1941 by Swiss engineer George de
Mestral, who took the idea from the burrs that
stuck tenaciously to his dog's hair. Under the
microscope he noted the tiny hooks on the end
of the burr's spines that caught anything with a
loop - such as clothing, hair or animal fur.

11. (iii) SYMBOLIC ANALOGY
Symbolic Analogy (compare it to an abstract principle)
bases around examination of object's properties in an abstract fashion.
Make use of objective and personal images to describe a problem.
An example of symbolic analogy is a tree - a water pump that works for decades
without any maintenance! You can try to use this analogy to bring mankind better
technologies!

12. How do we iowf want the removal of a tumour to be carried out?
(iv) FANTASY ANALOGY• A far-fetched solution.
frees your imagination from the boundaries of the normal world.
How do we in our
wildest fantasy (iowf)
want..the problem to
be solved

13. Answer: without leaving any marks on the patient's skin.
This might lead to the use of two or more laser beam intersecting
at a malignant tumour and destroying it.
(iv) FANTASY ANALOGY• A far-fetched solution.
frees your imagination from the boundaries of the normal world.

16. imagine.....

17. What if.....

19. Classroom Exercise 1
(thoughts/ experiences to be collated into Journal)
Select objects or images from your familiar environment that demonstrated the
practice of Analogical Thinking.
Reflect on their effectiveness

22. Classroom Exercise 2
(thoughts/ experiences to be collated into logbook)
Identify 2 existing products to discover relationships to other objects and images
Preferably seeking examples where a modest source has influenced the form of a
luxurious target, and vice versa.
Helpful hint: some of the best sources are natural.

23. end