The conceptual distances between ideas in combinational creativity

Abstract

Combinational creativity plays a significant role in design for supporting designers in producing creative ideas at early phases of design. This study provides insights into conceptual distances for forming combinational ideas. The results from a case study indicate that far-related ideas are used more often than closely-related ones to produce creative combinational designs and that far-related ideas could lead to more creative outcomes. The study provides new insights to aid designers in understanding the value of combinational creativity, and support in the production of creative designs.