Research and Strategy in the areas of creativity, innovation and creative cities are a speciality of our practise
Darren Starr is currently undertaking a PhD at the University of South Australia on urban creativity, innovation and city planning. Increased urbanization will create new urban problems or exacerbate existing ones. City design and functionality will be critical to the success of regional economies as well as managing the social and environmental impacts of the growing urban footprint.
Creativity in cities can involve both developing creative solutions to urban problems and being creative in the way we all carry out our daily tasks. Creativity should not be viewed as the sole prerogative of ‘creative types’. New approaches to managing storm water, consulting communities, manufacturing goods or providing services are just as important in developing local solutions to local problems.
As well as embracing creativity cities should development mechanisms for the implementation of creative thinking. A framework for creative ideas to be developed, tested and implemented. Partnerships between creative and implementation focused individuals, organizations or communities stand the best chance of having ideas created, developed, refined, agreed and implemented. A creative city will support new solutions and not be unduly critical when some of those solutions prove to not be the right fit for the local environment.
For cities to continue to evolve as creative places they must be planned and developed with urban form and function that contributes to the creativity of all residents (current, future and prospective). Cities that foster and support creativity will be well placed to retain talented individuals and companies and by developing the inherent creativity of their citizens, these cities will ensure they are desirable location to live, work, invest and visit well into the 21st century.
