Designers.. or Manipulators

I really enjoyed the articles this week.  I felt I understood everything well because of the case studies explained in the articles.  One study which was particularly intriguing was that with the candle, box, matches, and tacks.  It is fascinating how one can lead another to solve a problem in a particular manner based upon how the problem is presented.  This observation can obviously be applied to architecture studio.  Do many of us create similar designs because of how each project is presented to us? Do our studio professors have a far greater impact on the outcome of our process then one realizes?  Is this a good thing?  I think this could be a very interesting topic to discuss in class, and perhaps even do an in class exercise about.  Lets imagine one student came up with a small design issue, not unlike the problem of preventing wax to hit the table.  One half of the class would take 5 minutes to come up with a solution, while the other half waits outside.  Then they switch.  Would the two groups have similar solutions if the problem is presented the same way?  What if one group had a different presentation then the other.  Would that be the cause for a difference in solution?  It might be interesting to explore this idea.  Are designers in fact manipulators, controlling the way the human mind sees and experiences a piece?