Creative thinking by expert designers. (2004)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cross, Nigel
• Is Part Of: Journal of design research. Volume 4:Number 2(2004)
• Page Start: 162
• Page End: 173
• Publication Date: 2004
• Subjects: expertise -- creativity -- design process; Design -- Human factors -- Periodicals; Design -- Methodology -- Periodicals; Design, Industrial -- Periodicals; 745.405
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1748-3050

Abstract

Three case studies of expert practice in engineering and product design are reported. The studies are of exceptional designers and comprise one protocol study and two retrospective interview studies. In each case, an example of the designer's approach to a particular design problem is presented. Comparisons between the three examples are drawn, and there appear to be some striking similarities in the designers' strategies, despite the very different project examples. A general descriptive model of creative strategies in design is developed from these commonalities.