This week we discussed the theme of creativity. Creativity is best understood as a process (Gauntlett, 2018). Creativity is also one of the most central aspects of being human (Gauntlett, 2010). Boden (2003) describes creativity as the ability to create ideas or artefacts that are new, surprising and valuable. Solving problems involves a lot of creativity (Somerson et al, 2013). Research suggests that certain conditions can enhance the pursuit of creativity and innovation (Wylant, 2008). There are many techniques that help us in creative problem-solving. One of the best ways to get creative is to leave our comfort zone and experiment with new things. I personally struggle with the tendency to get attached too early to an idea that I deem good. This week I challenged myself to keep an open mind to all my ideas, even the ones I'm not too excited about, as there is something to be learned from each of them. The mantra 'fail fast and fail often' (Babineaux, 2013) is new to me; failing in order to find the best and most efficient path to success sounds slightly counterintuitive to me at first hearing.
Philosopher Martin Heidegger (1962) argued that people become increasingly closed to that which is new and different. In order to counter this process of closure, we need to employ methods and techniques that invite us to be more creative in order to innovate and enhance our problem solving capabilities. Boden (2003) proposes that creativity in itself is somewhat of a mystery, whereas Sawyer (2013) states that it is not a mystery and that proven techniques exist for enhancing creativity. One way we can generate increased creativity in our design process is through the use of the ICEDIP iterative method (Petty, 2017). The ICEDIP method allows for a combination of playful, free and uncritical work along with strategic thinking, analytical thinking and controlled thought to achieve a balance between the known and the unknown.
Sawyer (2013) argues that creativity does not descend upon us from one minute to the next; instead it happens in a process, in tiny steps, in the form of little bits of insight and incremental changes. Creativity can be difficult to tap into if we do not use steps/ phases and, instead, when asked to solve a problem, we fall into the trap of approaching it 'uncreatively' and just jump on the first solution that comes to mind and then uncritically work on it through to its completion (Petty, 2021).
Tanya Krzywinska's lecture on Creativity emphasised how important it is to pair analytical thinking with creative thinking. I will definitely be looking to implement Geoff Petty's ICEDIP iterative method into my creative process, as it allows for unfiltered play in the beginning stage, backed up b the comfort that those crazy initial brainstorms will be analytically distilled and streamlined later on. Creativity necessitates the undertaking of risk and allowing space for failure to occur. The inspiration phase of the ICEDIP technique provides this space.
Tanya's description of psychological patterns that trap us into familiar assumptions and halt creativity explained my previous resistance to remaining open to all kinds of ideas and why I tend to get too attached to a solution early on in my design process. I now understand how essential it is to step out of my comfort zone during my creative process to break these limiting psychological patterns. Learning and innovation require unstable ground.
Arterbury, T. (2016). When inspiration strikes. [Photography]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/VkwRmha1_tI
Babineaux, R. (2013). Fail Fast, Fail Often: How Losing Can Help You Win. TarcherPerigee.
Boden, M. A. (2003). The Creative Mind: Myths and Mechanisms. Routledge.
Gauntlett, D. (2010) Creative Explorations: New Approaches to Identities and Audiences. Pragmatics and Cognition. 18(1).
Gauntlett, D. (2018) Making is connecting: the social power of creativity, from craft and knitting to digital everything. Cambridge, UK: Polity Press.
Heidegger, M. (1962). Being and Time.
Krzywinska, T. (2021). Creativity & Innovation: Games and App Development.
Petty, G. (2017). How to be Better at Creativity.
Petty, G. (2021). Improving yours, and others’ creativity. Geoff Petty. https://geoffpetty.com/creativity/
Sawyer, K. (2013). Zig Zag the Surprising Path to Greater Creativity. San Francisco, Calif: Jossey-Bass.
Somerson, R., Hermano, M. & Maeda, J. (2013). The Art of Critical Making. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated.
Wylant, B. (2008). Design Thinking and the Experience of Innovation. Design Issues, 24(2), 3–14.
