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

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.