Potential of Visualizing Preference as Internal Factor for the Creative Process

Abstract

Background Nowadays, many researches on the objective and logical evaluations of created (=designed) objects are conducted in design engineering and the Kansei design field. However, there are not many studies on the relationship between a creator’s creativity and the evaluation of the created artwork in the fine art field. Many students in the fine art field conduct creative work with their limited favorite styles although they have not yet developed their own expressive characteristics. This simply means that they need to be introspective and cultivate their own preference (=Kansei) as an internal factor. With this background in mind, the purpose of this research is to provide students in art & design school with new perspectives so that they can examine their own preferences and develop characteristics of their creative work. Thus, not only Kansei as a source of creativity but also Kansei as an evaluation on perceived stimulus from outside are addressed in this research. Methods For the purpose of this study “Beyond Creativity” was conducted with 14 students of art & design at Southern Illinois University (SIU). Each participant selected a favorite item from daily life. Each one was required to conduct a presentation about why they selected the item in as logical a way as possible. Then, they selected a favorite artwork from a magazine, named “Glass Quarterly”. Each student’s preference as a creator’s internal factor was visualized with the Evaluation Grid Method (EG method). Each one was also required to present on this. The result of the EG method was analyzed by multivariate analysis, Semantic Differential method (SD method) and factor analysis. Result Each participant’s preference as an internal factor was visualized by an evaluation structure with the EG method. The evaluation structure was composed of 57 adjectives (Ave. 4.75 per person) and 195 definite reasons (Ave. 16.25 per person). From the factor analysis, it was revealed that a participant used the following 3 factors to evaluate the selected as a favorite glasswork: “originality factor,” “abstractness factor,” and “conservativeness factor.” Each selected favorite artwork was scored based on these three factors. Conclusion Each one’s preference for an artwork was visualized and scored with the EG method and factor analysis even though it was said to be difficult to describe. Each student could understand one’s preference for creative work. Moreover, all students were able to easily convey each ohter’s preference objectively and logically to others. From the results, each participant was able to examine their own preference based on the visualized and scored evaluation results. Thus, the results mean each student can understand their characteristics of creative work. That is instrumental in trying various expressions in their creative work. Moreover, they can convey their creative work to others objectively and logically by using the results of the analysis.