Generating novel ideas by looking beyond established frameworks, reframing problems from fresh perspectives, and turning original concepts into tangible outcomes that create new value.
Creativity is the ability to see the familiar as unfamiliar, connect knowledge and experiences across different domains, and produce new value. It goes far beyond having a flash of inspiration -- it encompasses the entire cycle of generating, refining, validating, and implementing ideas. Following the OECD creative thinking framework's emphasis on idea generation, exploration, elaboration, and evaluation, creativity develops through deliberate practice at every stage from observation to paradigm creation.
The starting point of creativity is quality observation. At this stage you consciously observe diverse examples and works around you, and cultivate creative sensibility by reproducing what catches your attention. You are beginning to collect existing ideas and recreate them -- corresponding to the Benchmark level of the AAC&U Creative Thinking VALUE Rubric. Curiosity drives you to start asking "why?" about things others take for granted.
A 14-day structured practice guide for Creativity.
International assessment framework defining creative thinking as idea generation, exploration, elaboration, and evaluation across written, visual, scientific, and social domains. Directly informs the progression from observation to paradigm creation.
Four-level rubric (Benchmark to Capstone) assessing innovative thinking, connecting/synthesizing, and risk-taking. Level boundaries at L1 (Benchmark), L4 (Milestone-to-Capstone), and L5 (Capstone) are directly informed by this scale.
Foundational research on the creative process and flow state, demonstrating that creativity is a systemic phenomenon involving individual, domain, and field. Supports the progression from personal practice (L1-L4) to field-level impact (L5-L7).
