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Exploration of Creativity in HCI - An interplay between freedom and structure

Wahlström, David LU and Lindvall, Lars (2012) INFM03 20121
Department of Informatics
Abstract
Creativity has become a modern concept. In several job advertisement, organisation state that they are looking for an employee of ‘creative’ nature. There is however several perspectives on what creativity is and is achieved. The purpose for this thesis was to explore the perception of creativity in Human computer interaction (HCI), and how HCI-professionals working in organisations relate to and with creativity in their work. Research on how creativity can be facilitated is currently divided, some researchers advocate complete freedom while others favour control by methods. In this study, we chose to interview six persons in different organisations that are working with HCI. We found that creativity in HCI is a continuous interplay... (More)
Creativity has become a modern concept. In several job advertisement, organisation state that they are looking for an employee of ‘creative’ nature. There is however several perspectives on what creativity is and is achieved. The purpose for this thesis was to explore the perception of creativity in Human computer interaction (HCI), and how HCI-professionals working in organisations relate to and with creativity in their work. Research on how creativity can be facilitated is currently divided, some researchers advocate complete freedom while others favour control by methods. In this study, we chose to interview six persons in different organisations that are working with HCI. We found that creativity in HCI is a continuous interplay between freedom and structure, or sometimes referred to as restrictions. In order to be creative, the professionals have to find the preferred balance for the specific project. Creativity can either result in small incremental improvements or entirely new ideas. It is ideal to not focus entirely on only new things. Instead the HCI-professionals need to have the analytical skill and understanding to now when there is an opportunity for it. Creativity generating methods are not supposed to be followed strictly. They are rather chosen and adapted to each project. Changing the creativity methods between projects contributes to new ways of thinking and prevents the risk of ending up with similar type of results. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Wahlström, David LU and Lindvall, Lars
supervisor
organization
course
INFM03 20121
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
Creativity, Human Computer Interaction, innovation, freedom, structure, restrictions, creativity methods.
report number
INF12-030
language
English
id
2798565
date added to LUP
2012-06-19 14:21:02
date last changed
2012-06-19 14:21:02
@misc{2798565,
  abstract     = {{Creativity has become a modern concept. In several job advertisement, organisation state that they are looking for an employee of ‘creative’ nature. There is however several perspectives on what creativity is and is achieved. The purpose for this thesis was to explore the perception of creativity in Human computer interaction (HCI), and how HCI-professionals working in organisations relate to and with creativity in their work. Research on how creativity can be facilitated is currently divided, some researchers advocate complete freedom while others favour control by methods. In this study, we chose to interview six persons in different organisations that are working with HCI. We found that creativity in HCI is a continuous interplay between freedom and structure, or sometimes referred to as restrictions. In order to be creative, the professionals have to find the preferred balance for the specific project. Creativity can either result in small incremental improvements or entirely new ideas. It is ideal to not focus entirely on only new things. Instead the HCI-professionals need to have the analytical skill and understanding to now when there is an opportunity for it. Creativity generating methods are not supposed to be followed strictly. They are rather chosen and adapted to each project. Changing the creativity methods between projects contributes to new ways of thinking and prevents the risk of ending up with similar type of results.}},
  author       = {{Wahlström, David and Lindvall, Lars}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Exploration of Creativity in HCI - An interplay between freedom and structure}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}