survival kit

1. 1
SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & DESIGN
Research Unit for Modern Architecture Studies in Southeast Asia
Foundation of Natural and Built Environment (FNBE)
CREATIVE THINKING SKILLS [DST30204]
Prerequisite: None
Lecturers: Shazreene Nurjanna Shamsuddin, Noorul Iffa Mohd Nayan, Paul Nickson Atia
Final Project:
ULTIMATE SURVIVAL KIT
40% (10% Individual Documentation + 30% Group Presentation)
Introduction
“Survival Kits come in many shapes and sizes, but their importance lies in the ability of the user as well as the
environment in which the user finds themselves.”
Have you ever thought or experience of being struck by a horrible boredom in your life? Can you
list what is the most mind-numbingly boring thing you do in your life? What triggers it?
Everyone will face boredom in their life; is a common emotional or psychological state when an
individual is having no particular things to do, lose interest in the surroundings or feels that a day or a
period is dull or tedious. When it happens, most people are not mentally, physically or emotionally
prepared for the situation which ends up being pulled into the loop.
The idea of survival kit is to prepare ourselves in advance as an aid to survive in an emergency. It
usually consists of basic tools and essential supplies needed for survival in normally a short period of
time. This survival kit comes in a practical set of equipment, a handy box or case with manual
instructions and varies in shapes and sizes to serve a specific purpose.

2. 2
Objectives of Project
The objectives of this project:
 To develop critical thinking and idea generation skills through investigation and application of a
wide range of thinking skills and techniques
 To apply divergent and convergent thinking methods in researching, developing and
presenting ideas and conclusions in the form of tangible statements.
Learning Outcomes of this Project
On successful completion of this subject, students will be able to demonstrate the following:
1. Apply practical, critical and creative thinking skills within the assignments.
2. Explain the importance of expressing personal opinions as part of academic development and
the systematic journey(s) taken to evolve these statements
3. Document the process of transforming the imagination onto surface and the application of
‘synectics process’ which describes as a process of bringing all the process of modifications
and hybridization together to form an original idea.
Tasks - Methodology
GROUP TASK
In a group of 5 or 6, you will be given a theme and daily items to create your Ultimate Survival Kit. You
will discuss and brainstorm on ideas to further investigate the theme given. Each member in the group
will be given a different daily item and to combine all items together as one pack.
The themes or situations are as following:
1. How to survive in a boring class
2. How to survive queuing in line at the bank/post office/clinic
3. How to survive a horrible blind date
4. How to kill boredom while waiting for food delivery to your home
5. How to survive a painfully slow internet connection
6. How to face a delayed train/flight
7. How to survive being in a meeting/discussion with life’s most annoying people
8. How to defeat mental block when doing assignment/project
9. How to cope with nagging parents/family members
The daily items that must be included in the Survival Kit are illustrated below:
Water bottle(s) Wet tissue Coins Hair clip(s)
Chopsticks Balloon(s) Cotton bud

3. 3
The daily items must be as one of the tools/supplies in the Survival Kit but you have to fuse it (by using
SCAMPER technique as taught in class or other suitable techniques) to become a new item. Here is the
recap for your reference.
SCAMPER is an acronym: each of the seven letters stands for a specific method for coming up with
new ideas by transforming existing ideas. The seven methods corresponding to the seven letters are:
S – Substitute: components, materials, people, names
C – Combine: mix, combine with other assemblies or services, and integrate
A – Adapt: alter, change of function, use part of another element
M – Modify: increase or reduce in scale, change shape, modify attributes (e.g. color etc)
P – Put to another use
E – Eliminate: remove elements, simplify, reduce to core functionality
R – Reverse: turn inside out or upside down
INDIVIDUAL TASK (INDIVIDUAL DOCUMENTATION)
Individually, each student will be given one daily item to be developed/explored/fused and to include in
the survival kit. Students are to document the whole process starts from brainstorming ideas, the
making process (or prototype making if applicable) and the end product. It is also to insert at the
last page the group survival kit (photo with brief description).
Students are required to show their investigation, exploration and process via sketches, drawings,
doodles or diagrams (digital method is not allowed). Information should be clear and easy to read
and more visuals instead of lengthy paragraph.
Submission Requirement
This is a group project participate by all group members. Marks shall be deducted to those who don’t
participate in their group.
GROUP SUBMISSION
COMPONENTS OF SUBMISSION REQUIREMENT
1. All items should be included in the Survival Kit with some application of fuse
(SCAMPER technique). If there is no change from original condition, marks will be deducted
from individual whom has been assigned to the particular item.
Example of ultimate survival kit

4. 4
2. Manual on how to use the Survival Kit (size is determined by the packaging and should be
placed in the kit). The instructions have to be in diagrammatic approach as always seen in
IKEA product assembly guide.
3. Survival Kit Packaging, Logo and Branding (how do you put everything together?). The
items should be packaged properly and creatively (to put in a box or case) to reflect the theme
given to each group. There should be proper labeling, relevant choice of material and proper
segmentation of each item. You could think about creative names for each item to make the
Survival Kit more interesting.
4. A demonstration/presentation of how to use the Survival Kit. You may choose any type of
presentation or demonstration you want to make on the submission day (e.g short play,
launching day, or proposal presentation to client etc.). All arrangement is based on the group’s
effort.
FORMATTING
1. The survival kit packaging must be in handy size, probably can fit into a standard back pack
or hand luggage etc. (guidelines not strictly to; a 16-18inch of laptop screen, A4/A3 size etc.)
2. The manual instructions can be a leaflet/handout/brochure that folded or bound and to be
place inside the Survival Kit (also can be attached as part of the packaging).
3. The overall packaging, logo and branding are best to do digitally and treat it as a future product
from a company.
MATERIALS
1. Students are allowed to use any materials suitable with the given daily items. All materials
should be safe, legal and non-explosive.
SUBMISSION DETAILS:
PRESENTATION ON 2ND AUGUST 2016, TUESDAY (time and venue to be determined)
INDIVIDUAL SUBMISSION
COMPONENTS OF SUBMISSION REQUIREMENT
1. A proper documentation of A4; minimum 15-20 pages, to be bound (com/ring binding) with a
cover (front and back) and to be completed manually (hand written and hand drawn).
2. All process should be included in the documentation.
3. To include group work at the last page of the documentation.
SUBMISSION DETAILS:
SUBMISSION ON 5th AUGUST 2016, FRIDAY (time and venue to be determined)
*Gentle reminder;
Any work submitted late will yield 10% mark deduction. For works submitted later than 2 days, no
assessment will be done.
If you are sick on the submission day, you have to provide MC with an official letter signed by
parents/guardian explaining about your health condition. A formal email should be written to the module
coordinator a day before/or before submission time.

5. 5
PROJECT TIMELINE
**Note:
Group presentation is prepared based on students’ creativity, interesting presentation will definitely
boost the marks. All arrangement is based on group’s effort to provide props, multimedia etc. (if
needed). You are encouraged to record your presentation and scan your individual works before
submission for e-portfolio purposes.
Assessment Criteria
The assessment for this assignment will be based on:
 Demonstrated understanding of the brief
 Appropriateness, originality, creativity of the idea
 Depth and quality of ideation process and idea elaboration
 Workmanship, aesthetics and functionality of the final outcome
Marking Criteria
Marks should be distributed as follows:
Work will be assessed based on:
TGC
Acquired
Assessment Criteria Marks %
Group Component
Demonstrated understanding of brief 5 %
Creative process and development of creating the Survival Kit 40%
Originality and quality of the Survival Kit 30%
Effectiveness of the presentation/demonstration 10%
Weekly progress and tutorial/consultation with tutor 5%
(Will be calculated as 30%)TOTAL 100%
Individual Component
Individual documentation of daily items
10%
RAYA
BREAK
04/07/2016
-
08/07/2016
Project
briefing
WEEK 1
13/06/2016
Briefing
WEEK 3
28/06/2016
Briefing2nd
tutorial
Idea
concept,
indiv.
fusing
item
WEEK 4
12/07/2016
Briefing3rd
tutorial
Overall
concept,
finalizing
items
(design &
function)
WEEK 5
19/07/2016
Briefing4th
tutorial
Packagin
g, items
combinati
on with
casing/
bag/box
WEEK 6
26/07/2016
Briefing5th
tutorial
Branding,
name,
logo,
manual
instruction
WEEK 2
21/06/2016
Briefing1st
tutorial
Research,
ideation &
brainstorm
ing
GROUP PRESENTATION: 2ND AUGUST 2016 (TUESDAY)*
INDIVIDUAL BOOKLET SUBMISSION: 5th AUGUST 2016 (FRIDAY)

6. 6
Suggested References
1. de Bono, Edward, 1994, De Bono’s Thinking Course, BBC Books
2. Igor Byttebier, Ramon Vullings, G. Spaas, 2009, Creativity Today
3. Keith Sawyer, 2013, Zig Zag: The Surprising Path to Greater Creativity, Jossey-Bass