Observing creative behaviours

Sketching and 3D modelling have been long recognised as creative designing tools, but the role that CAD should play remains contested. Research by Charlesworth (2007) has suggested that CAD does not support creativity whereas findings by Robertson and Radcliffe (2008) imply that CAD when used with other design tools does enable creativity to be fostered. Prior research by the authors has shown evidence of creative behaviours whilst designing with CAD (Musta’amal et al, 2008a and 2008b). Potentially useful by-products of this research have been literature reviews concerning creative behaviours that have been reported by cognitive psychologists (Musta’amal et al, 2009 in-press) and also behaviours that have been reported by design researchers as being observed when 2D and 3D sketch modelling have been used. The results of these literature reviews have been placed into categories. Seven categories of creative behaviours were adopted for the creative behaviours reported by cognitive psychologists. The 2D sketching behaviours have been placed in 8 categories and 3D sketch modelling reported into 3 categories. Data concerning these behaviours has been gathered using protocol analysis, interviews and diary methods on 4 design projects, including a project carried out by one of the authors. This paper will describe the outcomes of the literature reviews and provide examples from design projects of the categories of reported creative behaviours. The potential usefulness of these categories for the observation of creative behaviours in classrooms and studios is discussed.