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Mind and method: an examination of cognitive activities in the design process

dc.contributor.authorMattingly, Amy M., author
dc.contributor.authorLeigh, Katharine, advisor
dc.contributor.authorTremblay, Kenneth, committee member
dc.contributor.authorBanning, James, committee member
dc.contributor.authorWork, Rob, committee member
dc.date.accessioned2007-01-03T05:16:13Z
dc.date.available2007-01-03T05:16:13Z
dc.date.issued2011
dc.description.abstractThe creative process is a multifaceted and dynamic path of thinking required to execute a project in design-based disciplines (e.g., interior design, architecture). Social scientists have studied stages of the creative process; however, little comparative work has been conducted on the stages of the production process and increased creative design outcomes. This research seeks to understand phases of the creative design process by investigating design student experiences through a project assignment. This study used an exploratory design to collect qualitative data from demographic information, journal responses, and creative product results from college students enrolled in a design studio. The study conceptualized a creative process model based upon comparison and analysis of ten seminal and contemporary creative process models. Models were characterized by number of stages and grouped according to the transitional nexus between analysis and synthesis forming a common baseline. Four distinct categories were revealed based on the number and complexity of stages as: simple, balanced, complex analysis, and complex synthesis. Amabile's (1996) Components of Creativity model encompassing constructs of domain experience, motivation, and creativity-relevant skills was referenced in examining student processes which were then compared to the proposed model. Thirty-six senior level interior design students in a Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) program participated in the assignment. Of these, 34 consented to participate; the final number of participants responding to journal prompts in the time frame requested further reduced the number of participants, resulting in N = 20. Students were asked to design a lounge chair during a two week period and to journal in response to pre-determined question prompts regarding their activities. Using template analysis, codes were derived for task activities. A scaled furniture model and accompanying design process board was reviewed by external evaluators to identify level of creative output. Two distinct groups demonstrated high and low creativity. Tasks, demographic data, and level of creativity were then compared by this criteria and the proposed model reexamined. Demographic data and journal responses illustrated differences between the high and low creativity group. GPAs, transfer credits, and total credit hours were higher for the high creativity group in addition to evidence of higher levels of abstract thought and greater divergent thinking. Students in the high creativity group also demonstrated increased depth in thought and higher motivation throughout their creative process.
dc.format.mediumborn digital
dc.format.mediummasters theses
dc.identifierMattingly_colostate_0053N_10418.pdf
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10217/47431
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherColorado State University. Libraries
dc.relation.ispartof2000-2019
dc.rightsCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.
dc.subjectAmabile
dc.subjectcreativity
dc.subjectdesign process
dc.subjectdivergent thinking
dc.subjectinterior design
dc.subjectmotivation
dc.titleMind and method: an examination of cognitive activities in the design process
dc.typeText
dcterms.rights.dplaThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights (https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/). You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
thesis.degree.disciplineDesign and Merchandising
thesis.degree.grantorColorado State University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (M.S.)

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