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The automotive product development is not only defined by its complexity but furthermore by the need of developing creative ideas and innovative solution in a highly competitive field. Here, the highly structured and analytical approach might not always provide the most suitable foundation for creativity. It becomes clear that both approaches and sides are essential when it comes to being innovative on a highly competitive market while also managing the increasing complexity within the development process. The structured focus seems to be fairly established in the automotive industry (e.g. Systems Engineering), resulting in the need to integrate the unstructured sense mode and mitigating a solution to not only combine aspects of both approaches but furthermore try to find a suitable and feasible adaption for the automotive context. Therefore, the question arises how a 'sense mode' can be integrated into a 'focus mode' oriented automotive problem-solving cycle? To answer this research question, a two-part explorative expert study was set-up. Both study parts were executed in cooperation with a project leader of an automotive product development project in an interdisciplinary research project. The first part focussed on the status quo of a product development process in the automotive industry. Therefore, the use case of a new design of a cap from a power electronics developed in the project was used as a lead to visualize the process. Furthermore, current challenges and problems as well as well working elements were identified. The second part of the study then tried to explore possible elements of a more sense-oriented mode and on their possible application in the process. In conclusion it can be said that the possibility exists to integrate sense elements in a focus oriented automotive product development process. Still a fine tuning of those elements is needed. The study gave a first outlook on the feasibility for sense elements integration. In general, it seems to be it is essential to introduce the elements slowly and apieced as well as accompanied by instructors. Not only the accompanied instructions seemed to be critical but also the project-cultural base is relevant for users to feel secure and at ease when integrating sense elements that might be untypical and uncomfortable at first.

The basis for developing future products in the automotive industry is finding creative and innovative solutions. Ideas can be found by means of creativity methods that support product developers throughout the creative process. Product developers are provided with a variety of different and new methods. This leads to a “method jungle” in which it is difficult for product developers to find the most suitable path. The successful use of methods in product development goes hand in hand with the acceptance and implementation of the methods. Despite the added value, only a low use is observed in the development process. The field of Creativity Support Tools also offers a wide variety of different tools that support the creativity process. Although a chasm exists between the many CSTs that are developed and what creative practitioners actually use. Therefore, previous studies iteratively developed a user-centered tool called “IDEA” that tries to provide a tool that responds to users' needs. The question arises how the developed tool IDEA performs in “real life setting” regarding its UX and usability as well as the creativity method acceptance and level of mental workload.