

of
Exploring how we can nature creativity in our classrooms architects
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define apply understand
creativity and distinguish how it differs between children and adults
the implications of creativity research for school design
evidence-based strategies to enhance creativity in classrooms

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https://echotape.com/company/what-we-learned-marshmallow-challenge/

A 1992 longitudinal study by Land and Jarman found that 98% of kindergartners scored at a “genius” level for creativity, but only 32% of them maintained a high score, and just 12% were able to replicate similar results by age 15. (Ershadi, 2019) What happened to creativity?

Source: WEF Future of Jobs Report



Creativity is a process, not a product
PREPARATION INCUBATION ILLUMINATION VERIFICATION

Immersion in creative problem or medium

Unconscious development of a creative idea


A sudden moment of insight into a creative problem
Evaluation and adjustment of the creative idea
Children approach creativity with a sense of play
Children and babies are the R&D division of humanity
Alison Gopnik

The built environment influences creativity
Does the environment influence creativity?
D id you know that specific features such as light, windows, plants can promote creative performance for individuals. Furniture, Air quality and other factors promote team creative performance.

Figure recreated from Lee & Lee 2023




Our work Hominess
Perkins Eastman received a ONEder Grant to explore how workspaces can maintain the benefits of flexible design - like collaboration and choice - while reducing the cognitive strain on employees.
Both work and the classroom setting involved some creative process that can be enhanced and encourage by its environment.
By considering the 3 themes in classroom design, students have to potential to develop and act on their creativity abilities.

Toy of the year




Our work Play
Conducted research on the science of play to identify strategies for creating environments that support innovation through play.
Creativity involves a certain level of risk taking that children have the tolerance for. As Brown puts it, play presents a scenario in which “testing [can be] done safely, when survival is not at stake” (Brown, 2009).
Csikszentmihalyi discusses the relationship between our physical surroundings and creativity, noting that certain environments have the ability to stimulate the flow of new ideas and encourage playful experimentation (Csikszentmihalyi, 1997).
Continuous Learning Mindset
What is it and why is it important?
How does this impact creativity?
- Promotes the importance of discovery
- Promotes innovation
- Encourages adaptability
- Encourages to fail and try again (Jobs of the Maldives)
Ongoing learning/discovery process where seeking new ideas and knowledge is “never finished”. This mindset can be adopted through environment that prioritize “open-mindedness, persistent yearning for knowledge” (Ginnu, 2025)
Cultivate growth mindset Nurturing passion & curiosity Celebrate success (JWU, 2024)
What are we still curious about learning in creativity – what’s left to uncover?
How do you think certain influences such as – AI, hybrid learning, continuous learning mindset etc. will impact creativity in an educational setting?
What are the priorities for clients and is creativity one of them?
