Study
Innovation & DesignHigh ImpactModerate effect

AI-powered co-creation tools can enhance creative problem-solving in high-pressure environments

Digital tools designed with human-centric AI can augment creative thinking by generating novel ideas and supporting action planning, even in demanding professional settings.

Expert Systems · 2022

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Key Findings

  • 01The co-creative tool successfully generated potentially novel ideas for coaching challenges.
  • 02Practitioners reported experiencing different forms of creative thinking when using the tool.
  • 03Users indicated a need for enhanced support in collaborative creative processes and solution planning.
02

Application

Design takeaway

Integrate AI as a co-creator, not a replacement, in digital tools to enhance human creativity by providing novel suggestions and structured support for problem-solving.

How to apply

Develop digital tools that prompt users with diverse ideas based on their input, allowing them to select, adapt, and build upon these suggestions to solve complex problems.

Project actions

  • 01Consider how technology can assist users in generating novel solutions rather than just providing information.
  • 02Focus on user control and collaboration when designing AI-assisted creative tools.
03

Method & Evidence

AimTo develop and evaluate a co-creative digital tool that augments human creative thinking for professional challenges.
MethodDesign Science Research
ProcedureA co-creative tool, 'Sport Sparks', was developed using rule-based reasoning to automatically generate novel ideas in response to user-inputted coaching challenges. The tool was then evaluated by professional football coaches who used it to address real-world problems, providing feedback on its utility and impact on their creative process.
ContextElite sports coaching (professional football)

Variables

IVIntroduction of a co-creative AI tool.
DVUser's creative thinking output (novelty of ideas, action plan effectiveness).
CVType of coaching challenge, user's professional background.
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Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

  • +Application in a high-stakes professional domain (elite sports coaching).
  • +Focus on human-centred AI and user control.

Limitations

The AI's suggestions might be limited by its programming, and the effectiveness depends heavily on the user's ability to interpret and adapt the ideas.

Reliability & validity

The study's findings on user experience and idea generation would need to be validated across a larger and more diverse group of users and contexts to ensure reliability and generalizability.

Think critically

To what extent can AI truly foster novel creative thinking, or does it primarily facilitate the recombination of existing ideas?

05

Design Principles

"Empower human creativity through human-centred AI collaboration."

This research demonstrates the potential of AI not to replace human expertise, but to act as a collaborative partner. By automating idea generation and supporting structured planning, these tools can empower professionals to tackle complex challenges more effectively, fostering innovation within their practice.

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What This Means for Your Design

Using smart computer programs can help people come up with new ideas for difficult problems, like in sports coaching, by suggesting different options and helping them plan what to do next.

How to use in your project

  • 1.Reference this study when exploring the use of AI or digital tools to enhance user creativity and problem-solving in your design project.
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Add to My Project

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Quick Cite

(2022). Designing new digital tools to augment human creative thinking at work: An application in elite sports coaching. Expert Systems. https://doi.org/10.1111/exsy.13194 Retrieved from https://designdex.org/study/b91c1dca-de7c-4343-9e9f-8c5a47f937f2/ai-powered-co-creation-tools-can-enhance-creative-problem-solving-in-high-pressure-environments

Paragraph starter

The development of AI-powered co-creative tools, such as 'Sport Sparks' in elite sports coaching, demonstrates a promising avenue for augmenting human creative thinking. By providing automated idea generation and supporting action planning, these tools empower users to tackle complex challenges, fostering innovation. Future design projects can draw inspiration from this human-centred approach to AI, focusing on user control and collaborative ideation to enhance creative outcomes.

09

Source

Expert Systems

Designing new digital tools to augment human creative thinking at work: An application in elite sports coaching

journal · 2022

View source

Questions about this research

What does the research say about ai-powered co-creation tools can enhance creative problem-solving in high-pressure environments?
Integrate AI as a co-creator, not a replacement, in digital tools to enhance human creativity by providing novel suggestions and structured support for problem-solving. Evidence: Expert Systems (2022).
Why does "AI-powered co-creation tools can enhance creative problem-solving in high-pressure environments" matter for design?
This research demonstrates the potential of AI not to replace human expertise, but to act as a collaborative partner. By automating idea generation and supporting structured planning, these tools can empower professionals to tackle complex challenges more effectively, fostering innovation within their practice.
How can designers apply this research?
Integrate AI as a co-creator, not a replacement, in digital tools to enhance human creativity by providing novel suggestions and structured support for problem-solving.
What were the main findings?
The co-creative tool successfully generated potentially novel ideas for coaching challenges.. Practitioners reported experiencing different forms of creative thinking when using the tool.. Users indicated a need for enhanced support in collaborative creative processes and solution planning.
What research method was used?
Design Science Research.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2022 journal from Expert Systems.
What should I do differently in my next project?
Develop digital tools that prompt users with diverse ideas based on their input, allowing them to select, adapt, and build upon these suggestions to solve complex problems.
What are the limitations?
The study was specific to elite sports coaching, and further research is needed to explore applicability in other domains. User feedback indicated a need for more advanced features in collaborative and planning aspects.
Is there evidence that tools enhance affects design outcomes?
A digital tool designed to assist creative thinking in professional football coaching was found to generate useful ideas and stimulate creativity, though users desired more support for collaboration and planning. This research demonstrates the potential of AI not to replace human expertise, but to act as a collaborativ Source: Expert Systems (2022).
Where does this digital tools research apply?
Elite sports coaching (professional football) It sits within innovation & design research on designdex.org.

Related research topics

tools enhance design research · evidence on tools enhance · does tools enhance improve design outcomes · digital tools studies for designers · tools enhance and digital tools findings · innovation & design research evidence