Inflection moments in design discourse: How questions drive problem framing during idea generation

•We analysed the questioning behaviour of a design team during eight ideation meetings.•High-level questions facilitated the inflection moments that reframed the problem.•Reflection countered fixation and built the basis for high-level questions.•Not all high-level questions led to inflection moments.

In this study, we investigated how questions influence problem (re)framing and idea shaping in design discourse. We analysed the question-asking behaviour of a multidisciplinary group of students who were tasked with designing new birthday celebration concepts. We focused on the sessions that took place during the idea generation phase of the project. Our analysis showed that high-level questions facilitated the emergence of inflection moments during idea generation. It also illustrated that, prior to the inflection moments, reflection built the basis on which high-level questions were formulated. We interpreted that type of reflection as resistance to design fixation. Based on our findings, we proposed a model of how design inquiry facilitates inflection moments during idea generation and counteracts design fixation.