Assessing creativity in design education: Analysis of creativity factors in the first-year design studio

The aim of this study is to explore creativity in design education and identify the creativity assessment indicators in the first-year design studio. A measurement tool of 41 items that consists of the artifact creativity, design elements and assembly of design elements were utilised for the assessment of 210 artifacts. Results oldie exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis indicated three main design creativity factors. The primary factor consists of the novelty and affective characteristics of artifact that are associated with its shape. The second factor has the elaboration characteristics that are integrated with its geometric and figure-ground relations and harmony of design elements. The third factor consists of rhythm, repetition, unity, order and number of design elements. (c) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.