Abstract

The theory of cognitive modes states that individuals have unique and dominant ways of thinking. Cognitive modes influence cognitive abilities commonly called “aptitudes.” These distinct abilities make individuals suited for specific tasks. What are an industrial designer’s dominant cognitive modes? This study attempts to identify them by recognizing cognitive abilities and categorizing the abilities to determine the dominant cognitive modes. The research identifies three dominant cognitive modes: divergent thinking, visual thinking, and adaptive thinking. The purpose of this research is to develop an assessment tool to identify strong candidates for the industrial design preprogram at Brigham Young University.