Crafting briefs to stimulate creativity in the design studio. (June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Koronis, Georgios; Casakin, Hernan; Silva, Arlindo
• Is Part Of: Thinking skills and creativity. Volume 40(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-06
• Subjects: Design brief -- Creativity -- Novelty -- Appropriateness -- Usability; Thought and thinking -- Periodicals; Critical thinking -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Creative thinking -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Thinking -- Periodicals; Creativeness -- Periodicals; Teaching -- Periodicals; Pensée -- Étude et enseignement -- Périodiques; Créativité (Éducation) -- Étude et enseignement -- Périodiques; 370.15205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tsc.2021.100810
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1871-1871

Abstract

Highlights: Investigates the impact of different sets of stimuli and their combined effects on creative outcomes. Visual stimuli of existing solutions should be avoided when the goal is generating novel ideas. Examples and specific product requirements result in higher appropriateness and usability design outcomes. Quantify relationships between scores of design creativity and perception of the design briefs. Students have misconceptions about how examples affect the novelty of their design outcomes. Abstract: This study explored ways to construct design briefs to identify which formats best foster creativity among undergraduates in their projects. The early-stage ideas of 158 novice designers were assessed in an empirical study using a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods. Collaborative sketching and 6-3-5 method were combined to use drawings as the main form of communication during the ideation task. This was followed by a post-experimental questionnaire aimed at learning about the participants' views on the ideation task. Our results suggest that briefs with specific numerical requirements helped students score well in appropriateness, while those including physical stimuli led to higher Usability scores but lower Novelty scores. Outcomes from the survey showed that although the presence of a visual prompt led students to believe that they were enhancing the Novelty of their designs, their final scores reflected the opposite. Because of that, educators should consider addressing students' misconceptions about how examples affect the creativity of their design solutions.