Access Type

Open Access Dissertation

Date of Award

January 2018

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Department

Instructional Technology

First Advisor

Monica W. Tracey

Abstract

Research on the role of designers’ own emotions as an influence on design processes, outcomes, and professional identity is limited but indicates that these experiences may play a meaningful role in design, particularly around ideation processes. This phenomenographic study sought to investigate and identify critical variations in the ways that graphic designers understand their emotional experiences around ideation. Based on interviews with 15 graphic designers, seven distinct categories of understanding emerged. These included (1) goodness-of-fit between designer and project sets an emotional tone for ideation; (2) high arousal emotions are present during ideation but incidental; (3) high arousal emotions are present during ideation and are managed by seeking calmness; (4) high arousal emotions present during ideation are managed by introducing structure or restraint; (5) high arousal emotions present during ideation are managed by seeking feedback; (6) emotional cues serve as intuitive signals for idea evaluation; and (7) reflection on emotional patterns supports professional growth. Implications for the relationship between creativity and emotions as well as for learning design and allied fields are discussed. Directions for future research on creativity and emotions, professional identity in design, and design education are also identified.

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