Bruno Munari’s design methodology – from problem to solution

Bruno Munari (1907-1998) was one of the greatest Italian designers. He was also an artist and writer who greatly influenced the fields of visual (graphics, painting, sculpture) and non-visual expression (teaching, poetry, writing).

It is thanks to Munari that the figure of the artist has become like the one of a designer, and therefore a person who tries to solve everyday life problems and who also becomes a business consultant.

He was particularly interested in the development of creativity and imagination in small children through play, and he developed several tools to help children develop their fantasy and their creative thinking.

As we already touched upon the topic in “What is Creativity?”, Munari believed that everyone can be creative if given the right tools and developed a simple design methodology that guides you from problem to solution.

Munari’s design methodology

When faced with a problem, Munari proposes a series of steps that guide you through the process of problem-solving.

1. Problem
2. Definition of the problem
3. Problem components
4. Data collection
5. Data analysis
6. Creativity
7. Materials & technologies
8. Experimentation
9. Prototyping
10. Verification
11. Technical drawings
12. Solution

To illustrate that his methodology could really be applied to anything, he makes the example of having to cook a dish:

1. Problem

Green rice

2. Definition of the problem

Green rice with spinach for 4 people

3. Components of the problem

Rice, spinach, ham, onion, oil, salt, pepper, broth

4. Data collection

Is there someone who already made it?

5. Data analysis

How was it made? What can I learn from it?

6. Creativity

How can I combine all of the above in the right way?

7. Materials

Which rice? Which pan? Which method should I choose to cook it?

8. Experimentation

Trials and taste testing

9. Prototyping

Final sample

10. Verification

It’s good and serves 4 people

11. Technical drawings

Written recipe

12. Solution

Green rice served on a hot plate

You can apply Munari’s design methodology to solve all kinds of problems, ranging from having to solve a coding problem, create an illustration, a layout for a website, to having to outline a marketing campaign.

You might also be interested in Isaac Asimov’s guide on creativity and how to create an environment that nurtures creative and new ideas.