A Critical Analysis of ‘Creativity’ in Sustainable Production and Design

Abstract

This paper provides a system level perspective of the contextual pressures facing designers, engineers and businesses today. In it, we challenge negative creative norms and we champion positive 'post normal' creativity to enable a sustainable future. We hypothesise that organisations working towards creative sustainable solutions are driven by a purpose designed to respond to the current and contextual pressures faced by the Earth's systems, a global society and a global economy. Developing motivations within a sustainable system will require instilling a long-term world-view perspective in all learnersand in this we include international leaders and industrialists, business owners, academic teachers and pupils. A regenerative mind-set must be encouraged across the collective of engineers, designers and business leaders-so that humanity can realise ecological, social and financial prosperity. 'Business as normal' must come to an end. We must enable an industrialised humanity to design its way out of unsustainable times. Across undergraduate and postgraduate education, through to Continued Professional Development and lifelong learning, the impact of design and business decisions must be qualified and quantified with respect to the three pillars (people, planet and profit). The consequences must be recognised, discussed, measured and used to productive and healthy advantage. By generating and adopting a more holistic view of impact, we have the potential for making real time measurement in a clean Fourth Industrial Revolution. With tangible measures of impact across full project lifecycle and the full supply and distribution chain, designers and engineers will be better informed to make sustainable decisions.

Analysing the sustainability competencies of preservice teachers in Spain

“…This approach has been shared with other areas of study. Cheng (2018) noted the role of creativity in promoting a sustainable economy, Clemente (2009) highlighted its importance in urban design, and Lau zikas and Mok seckiene (2013) and Empson (2019) evidenced how it can generate important entrepreneurial initiatives and promote decent employment. Therefore, the potential linkage of PE with SD and SDGs is still being explored.…”

Creativity for Sustainability: How Do Polish Teachers Develop Students’ Creativity Competence? Analysis of Research Results

“…A creative approach has facilitated the development of smaller and bigger businesses, cultural activities and initiatives to prevent exclusion in these difficult times. Creativity supports business and, in a wider context, economic development at many levels [46]. Thomas Empson, Shannon Chance and Shushma Patel suggest the following question should be posed: 'Can we sustain our current occupation of Earth using current practices?'.…”

“…Thomas Empson, Shannon Chance and Shushma Patel suggest the following question should be posed: 'Can we sustain our current occupation of Earth using current practices?'. Their answer is definite: 'No, we cannot' [46]. Thus, creative competencies may help to find a solution in this critical situation.…”

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