Concept of Creative and Design Thinking, Creativity Skills
Development, and Boosting Creativity
By
ASADU C.O
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
David Umahi Federal University of Health
Sciences Uburu
Course: DUFUHS-RIC 117
Creative thinking
Creative thinking is all about
developing innovative
Creativity is the ability to form
solutions to problems.
novel and valuable ideas or
Creative thinkers brainstorm not
works using one's
only a large number of ideas but
imagination. Products of
also a variety and range of
creativity may be intangible,
them. Once they have
or a physical object. Creativity
brainstormed their ideas,
may also be described as the
creative thinkers will experiment
ability to find new solutions to
with them.
problems, or new methods to
accomplish a goal (Google) Creative thinking is the ability to think
in new, original ways to solve problems,
generate ideas, or address challenges
Characteristics of creative thinkers
1. Creative thinkers often explore
alternatives to traditional methods and
established routines.
2. Creative thinking is about finding
new ways of doing things, often
breaking free from the typical
approach.
3. A creative mindset allows individuals
to approach a problem from various
angles and adapt their approach based
on the situation.
4. Narrowing down options to find the most practical
or effective solutions.
5. Creative thinkers tend to be more open to
experimentation, accepting that failure is a part of the
creative process
(Ezekiel et
Concept of Design Thinking
Design thinking is a problem-
solving methodology that
applies creativity to human-
centered design processes
(Eze and Udeh,1997).
Design thinking is a non-
linear, iterative process that
teams use to understand
users, challenge assumptions,
redefine problems and create
innovative solutions to
prototype and test (Wikipedia)
1.Empathy: Understanding the needs,
Design thinking must Involve;
feelings, and challenges of users to
create relevant solutions.
2. Defining the problem: Articulating
the problem clearly based on user
insights.
3. Ideation: Brainstorming and
generating creative ideas to address
the defined problem.
4. Prototyping: Creating physical or
digital representations of the ideas to
explore potential solutions.
5. Testing: Evaluating prototypes with
real users to gather feedback and
improve upon the designs.
Creativity skills include theCreativity
ability toSkills Development
think about a problem or a task in a
new way and use imagination to come
up with new ideas. The development
of these skills involves creating
innovative and useful products
and services through practice,
application and feedback
Critical and creative thinking broaden
your perspective and allow you to
devise unique solutions to everyday
problems. You can develop your
creative skills by changing your
environment, learning from
others, and adjusting your
approach to work
Strategies for nurturing creative skills
1. Practice Mindfulness: Mindfulness techniques,
such as meditation, help clear the mind and improve
focus, enabling more creative thought processes.
2. Cross-disciplinary learning: Gaining knowledge
from a wide range of fields encourages novel
connections and sparks new ideas.
3. Curiosity and exploration: Actively seeking out
new experiences, asking questions, and engaging
with the world in a curious way can fuel creativity.
4. Collaborative brainstorming: Working with
others can help generate fresh perspectives and
spark new ideas. Collaboration often leads to more
innovative solutions.
5. Daily creative exercises: Engaging in regular
creative activities, such as journaling, drawing, or
practicing a new skill, can keep creativity active and
well-practiced.
or personal space that encourages experimentation,
Boosting Creativity
tolerates mistakes, and Techniques
valuesand strategies
new that ideas
can boostwill
creativity both in individuals and teams includes;
naturally foster creativity.
2. Allow time for incubation: Sometimes, stepping
away from a problem allows ideas to percolate
subconsciously, leading to creative breakthroughs.
3. Change of environment: Altering your
surroundings, such as working from a new location or
rearranging your workspace, can stimulate creative
thinking.
4. Limitations and constraints: Introducing
constraints can drive innovation by forcing you to
think outside the box and come up with creative
solutions to overcome those limits.
5. Take breaks: Mental fatigue stifles creativity.
Taking breaks and engaging in non-creative activities
can help refresh your mind, leading to new insights
when you return to the task.
6. Expose yourself to new stimuli: Traveling,
Factors that affects creativity
While creativity is a vital skill, there are several challenges that
may hinder the creative process:
1. Fear of failure: The fear of making mistakes or not
succeeding often holds people back from experimenting with
new ideas.
2. Mental blocks: Sometimes, an individual may struggle to
generate ideas due to a lack of inspiration or fatigue.
3. Conformity and pressure: Societal norms or workplace
pressures/toxic workplace can discourage non-conventional
thinking and innovation.
4. Over-reliance on routine: Repeating the same methods,
processes, or tasks can limit creative thinking by making people
comfortable and resistant to new ideas.
(Sternberg and Lubart, 1995)
Product Design and Development
Design and development are two key
elements necessary to create any
product. From start to finish, each
phase of the product's lifecycle needs
careful coordination between these
two disciplines for a successful
outcome
Product design and development
is the process of transforming an idea
into a tangible product that meets the
needs of consumers while also
achieving the business goals of an
organization. This process combines
creativity, market research, and
technical expertise to create products
that are both functional and
Product Design vs. Product Development: 7 Key Differences
Product design focuses on creating the aesthetic elements of the product, such as its shape, size, color and texture,
while product development is primarily concerned with ensuring its functionality and usability
Product design involves creating sketches or prototypes from which to work from, but product development
requires detailed technical drawings and specifications for each element of the finished item.
The designing process often includes testing the product on users or through surveys; product development, on the
other hand, involves extensive prototyping and rigorous quality assurance procedures
When it comes to the end user experience, design helps convey brand messaging while
developing facilitates optimum performance capabilities .
In terms of cost-effectiveness, product design can help reduce unnecessary costs by streamlining the manufacturing
processes, while proper development makes products more cost-effective due to better use of resources such as
time and materials.
From a scalability point of view, product design helps make products easily scalable for upgradation or customization purposes,
while development helps ensure that production is increased without compromising on quality standards.
Both processes require different kinds of skill sets: designers need creative thinking abilities while developers need technical
knowledge and analytical skills.
Key steps in products design and development
1. Ideation:
The initial phase focuses on generating ideas for the product. Brainstorming sessions, research into consumer needs, and analysis of market trends
are conducted to come up with concepts that will resonate with the target audience.
2. Concept Development:
After the ideation phase, the team moves into refining and narrowing down ideas. Here, feasibility studies, user experience (UX) testing, and
prototyping are essential. This phase involves sketching initial designs, developing wireframes, and constructing functional prototypes.
3. Design and Prototyping:
The design team creates detailed product blueprints or CAD (Computer-Aided Design) models. Prototypes are built, tested, and improved to ensure
that the product meets specifications. Testing involves assessing the product for usability, safety, and functionality.
4. Engineering:
At this stage, engineers work on translating the design into something that can be mass-produced. Materials, manufacturing processes, and the
product's durability are carefully considered. They ensure that the design is not only functional but can be made at scale efficiently.
5. Production:
Once the design is finalized, it moves into production. Quality control checks are essential to ensure the product meets industry standards.
Production involves coordination between manufacturers, suppliers, and the logistics team to ensure the product is created and distributed in a
timely and cost-effective manner.
6. Testing and Quality Assurance:
Before full-scale production, the product undergoes rigorous testing. The product is evaluated in real-world scenarios, and any issues with usability,
design, or functionality are addressed. These quality control processes ensure that the final product is reliable and up to standard.
7. Launch:
After testing, the product is ready for launch. Marketing and distribution teams work together to promote the product, making sure it reaches the
target consumers. Product launch strategies often involve press releases, advertisements, influencer partnerships, and promotional events.
8. Feedback and Iteration:
After the product launch, consumer feedback is gathered to improve future versions. Product design and development is an iterative process, so
continuous improvement is key to ensuring the product stays competitive in the market
A brand strategy is a type of Brand strategy
marketing strategy that focuses on
how a business will present its
brand to consumers and position
itself within the marketplace.
Brand strategy refers to the long-term plan for the
development of a successful brand. It defines the
core message, values, and personality of the brand,
as well as how it will connect with its audience over
time.
Example: Coca-Cola's marketing strategy
centers around creating a robust and
enduring brand image that
resonates with people of all ages,
cultures, and backgrounds. It goes
beyond simply selling a product; instead,
it focuses on creating an emotional
connection and fostering a sense of
Relationship Between Product Design and Brand Strategy
1.Consistency: Product design should reflect
the brand’s identity—whether through design
The relationship between elements, user experience, or messaging. For
product design and brand example, a luxury brand’s product design
strategy is crucial for creating should communicate quality and exclusivity.
products that not only meet
2. Brand Differentiation: A strong product
customer needs but also align
design can set a brand apart in a crowded
with the brand’s overall identity
market. Unique product features, aesthetics,
and values. Product design
and functionality help reinforce the brand’s
directly impacts the consumer's
perception of the brand. If the position and attract loyal customers.
product is innovative, 3. Consumer Trust and Loyalty: When a
functional, and visually brand’s products consistently deliver on their
appealing, it reinforces the promises, customers develop trust and
brand’s promise and loyalty. This trust strengthens the brand’s
positioning. reputation and helps in building long-term
relationships with consumers.
Innovation
Innovation is defined as the
process of bringing about
new ideas, methods,
products, services, or
solutions that have a
significant positive impact
and value. It involves
transforming creative concepts
into tangible outcomes that
improve efficiency, and
effectiveness, or address unmet
needs.
The theory of innovation seeks to
understand how new ideas emerge, are
developed, and ultimately implemented
Models that explained the innovation process
1. Henry William Chesbrough in 2003, proposed the model of open innovation: This model, stresses the importance of
collaborating with external entities (such as other companies, universities, or even individuals) in the innovation process. It
highlights how firms can leverage external ideas and paths to market, rather than relying solely on internal resources.
2. According to Vanderburg, (2005), Joseph Schumpeter is considered the “father” of innovation theory. Schumpeter's views
underwent significant changes. He connected the innovation process with the entrepreneur, changing the market and production
processes through his active actions, and creating economic growth. Schumpeter is best known for his theories on business
cycles and the development of capitalist economies, and for introducing the concept of entrepreneurship. For Schumpeter, the
entrepreneur was the cornerstone of capitalism—the source of innovation, which is the vital force driving a capitalist economy.
3. According to Stanley Metcalfe, (2007), Alfred Marshal proposed the innovation theory of demand and supply. Alfred Marshall
sought to join together the influences of cost production and consumer utility. His supply and demand graph demonstrated
that the market price of a good, and the output of a good, are dependent on both supply and demand.
4. In 1997, Clayton M. Christenson introduced the theory of disruptive innovation. Disruptive Innovation describes
a process by which a product or service takes root in simple applications at the bottom of the market—typically by
being less expensive and more accessible—and then relentlessly moves upmarket, eventually displacing
established competitors. This theory explains how smaller, more agile companies can create breakthroughs that disrupt
existing market leaders, often by offering simpler, cheaper, or more convenient alternatives
5. Linear models of innovation: These models suggest that innovation follows a straightforward path from research to
development and then to commercialization. It is a process of idea generation, prototype development, testing, and final
production.
21st Century Skills for Driving Innovation
To develop successful members of the
global society, education must be based on
a framework of the Four C's:
communication, collaboration, critical
thinking and creative thinking
In the 21st century, fostering innovation
requires a diverse set of skills. The most
essential skills that drive innovation are
those that enable individuals to work in
collaborative, dynamic, and fast-paced
environments
21st century skills—sometimes called "soft skills"—encompass a broad
range of abilities essential for success in college, careers, and adult life.
Teaching soft skills is increasingly emphasized, as these skills are crucial
for success in higher education and the workplace.
Various frameworks exist to define and assess 21st century skills, with
school districts often creating their profiles of a graduate tailored to their
community's needs.
Implementing strategies to support teachers and assess students'
progress in developing 21st century skills is an essential component of
teaching these skills.
Importance of 21st Century Skills
1. Higher-education and business leaders cite
soft skills as being the most important
driver of success in higher-level courses
and in the workplace.
2. In today’s world, our schools are preparing
students for jobs that might not yet exist.
Career readiness means equipping students
with a nuanced set of skills that can prepare
them for the unknown.
3. Social media has changed human
interaction and created new challenges in
navigating social situations.
4. The age of the Internet has dramatically
increased access to knowledge. Students
need to learn how to process and analyze
large amounts of information.
5. Content knowledge from core subjects can
only go so far; students need to be taught
how to apply facts and ideas towards
Examples of 21st century skills include;
1. Critical thinking
2. Communication skills
3. Creativity
4. Problem solving
5. Perseverance
6. Collaboration
7. Information literacy
8. Technology skills and digital literacy
9. Media literacy
10.Global awareness
11. Self-direction
12.Social skills
13.Civic literacy
14.Social responsibility
15.Innovation skills
16.Thinking skills
Start-up development and management
Key areas that are essential in startup
development and management;
1. Idea generation and validation
Starting and managing a startup 2. Business planning
is an exciting yet challenging 3. Funding and financial management
journey. It involves numerous 4. Building the right team
steps and requires strategic 5. Product development and iteration
planning, creativity, resilience,
6. Sales and Marketing strategy
7. Scalability and growth
and adaptability.
8. Legal and compliance consideration
9. Networking and mentorship
10.Adaptability and Resilience
