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What is Preserving Ambiguity?

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Preserving ambiguity is a design technique that seeks to avoid making assumptions or imposing constraints too early in a design process. Design starts with the idea that anything is possible in the hopes that a seemingly improbable idea will emerge that has significant value to the design.
The idea of preserving ambiguity isn't necessarily well accepted. A contrary technique, the creativity of constraints suggests that designers generate more valuable ideas when they are presented with constraints such as a clear problem statement.

Problem Solving

Beyond design, preserving ambiguity is used in processes of creative problem solving such as brainstorming. Making assumptions too early in a creative process can result in failure of imagination.
Overview: Preserving Ambiguity
Type
Definition
A design technique that avoids imposing assumptions and constraints too early in a design process.
Value
Allowing seemingly improbable ideas to surface with the thought that they may have value.
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