2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Creativity in engineering education is crucial for developing innovative solutions in design and manufacturing, addressing both current and future trends. As technology evolves, engineers must create products that meet complex demands such as sustainability, efficiency, and adaptability. Integrating creativity into engineering fosters novel approaches to design, enabling engineers to stay ahead in competitive industries. With rapid advancements in automation, artificial intelligence, and smart manufacturing, engineers trained to think creatively will be better equipped to shape future products and processes. By encouraging creative problem-solving, engineering education ensures that professionals can address challenges in both conventional and emerging fields.

Traditionally perceived as a discipline focused on technical rigor, engineering today must integrate creativity to address issues such as infrastructure maintenance, environmental sustainability, and resource management. This paper explores the importance of creativity and innovation in engineering, addressing the misconception that engineers are not inherently creative. By drawing parallels between the engineering design process and creative thought, it is argued that creativity is fundamental to solving complex modern problems. The paper highlights the work of E. Paul Torrance, a pioneer in creativity research, whose theories underscore that creativity can be taught and cultivated in students. Compatible educational frameworks are then reviewed briefly. Drawing upon their experience of teaching courses such as Creative Design and Capstone Design, the authors present strategies to foster creativity within engineering curricula. These include collaborative reasoning, project-based learning, and the use of creative thinking tools like brainstorming and ideation notebooks. Many engineering schools have already adopted this approach; others need to embrace this mindset shift to prepare students for the real-world challenges they will face in a resource-constrained world, and to ensure that future engineers are not only technically proficient but also innovative thinkers.

Keywords: Creativity and innovation; Engineering education; Creative problem-solving; Design thinking; Project-based learning; Collaborative innovation; Engineering in the future

Selected References
• Felder RM (1988) “Creativity in engineering education,” Chemical Engineering Education 22 (3), 1988, p 120-125.
• Pusca D, Northwood DO (2018) “Curiosity, creativity and engineering education,” Global Journal of Engineering Education, 20 (3), 2018, p 152-158.
• Orhun E, Orhun D (2013) “Creativity and engineering education,” Proceedings of 41st SEFI Conference, 2013, p 16-20.
• Cropley DH (2016) Creativity in engineering, Springer Singapore, 2016.
• Stouffer WB, Russell JS, Oliva MG (2004) “Making the strange familiar: Creativity and the future of engineering education,” Proceedings of the 2004 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, vol 9, p 1-9, American Society for Engineering Education.