THE IMPORTANCE OF PLAY AND CREATIVITY IN THE DESIGN CURRICULUM

It is more important than ever that our product design graduates have a better understanding of how to enhance their creative skills in order to design and develop new innovative products. This paper describes some of the research undertaken in the area of creativity and play; how it is being integrated into the design curriculum within the school; and how it is helping to inform the design of a new building for the school. The first part of the paper provides a summary of recent studies that have explored the relationship between play, the ‘state of being’ of a person, the environment and creativity. The second part of the paper discusses how the results of these studies have significant implications for the design curriculum and the student-learning environment.

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