Towards understanding and supporting creativity in design: analogies in a constrained cognitive environment

In order to show that the emergence of new ideas takes place in a “constrained cognitive environment”, we conducted two experimental studies in a creative professional area: non-routine design. The first study is focused on the role of analogical reasoning in creativity and, especially, on the nature of potential “sources” of inspiration, which facilitate the evocation process. The second study aims at understanding on which ground designers of different levels of expertise construct their own constrained cognitive environment. Based on the obtained results, we suggest ways to facilitate creative acts from designers.