In this blog post, we will explore whether creativity as an engineer is innate or can be cultivated through effort, and look at ways to nurture creativity.
Anyone who has dedicated their life to engineering has probably wondered about this at least once. Engineering is said to be a discipline that creates value through science and technology. Engineers strive to produce results that are valuable to the nation, society, and individuals. They work hard to solve the numerous problems that lie before them. They strive to produce results faster than other scholars researching the same topic, or to develop products that are faster and more efficient than those of other companies targeting the same consumer group. Finding creative solutions that others have not considered is a simple yet challenging path to enhancing one’s value. As in any other field of study, creativity is considered the most important talent for engineers. I am currently a senior at the University of Tokyo’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. I have long struggled with a lack of creativity among my many intelligent friends at university. When working on robot design projects, I felt frustrated when I saw my friends come up with creative ideas.
Seeing friends easily come up with alternative solutions to complex design problems, I often wondered, “Am I lacking creativity?” Despite being someone who prided myself on being diligent during high school and university, creativity was what made me feel most insecure. This concern was significant because I aspire to earn a PhD, continue research as a professor, and teach students. I believe that to succeed as a professor, one must have the ability to delve into new aspects that others cannot see. In other words, I came to believe that researchers without creativity would eventually fall behind. And this belief seems to align with reality to some extent. So, am I a creative person? I couldn’t confidently answer this question. While I could solve exam problems well, was that enough? This dilemma continued. I regretted not receiving gifted education. Similarly, I regretted not taking an interest in the arts, such as music and art, which are said to be good for developing creativity, at an earlier age.
So, am I a person who lacks creativity? Or am I just lacking in creativity? After much deliberation throughout my college life, I came up with my own answer. Through this article, I would like to organize my thoughts and share them with readers for discussion.
When I was a sophomore in college, while I was deeply concerned about my lack of creativity, I attended a lecture that left a strong impression on me. The lecture was on the philosophical understanding of science, given by a professor. The professor argued that genius is not the ability to create something from nothing, but rather the ability to combine existing things to create something new. For example, no matter how difficult an exam question may be, it is always within the scope of what we already know, and therefore, it can always be solved. A genius, or someone who solves problems creatively, is someone who can find the right combination. In other words, creativity is not about solving problems without any relevant information, but rather about taking the next step after acquiring sufficient background knowledge related to the problem. This is the essence of what I remember from that lecture.
This story greatly awakened me when I was struggling with my thoughts at the time. It was a simple story. If you want to be creative in a certain field, first acquire a wealth of background knowledge in that area! It meant that anyone could achieve it with effort. After hearing this lecture, I came to the following conclusion about creativity, which I have held until now as I finish my undergraduate studies.
“Creativity comes from diligence and purity!” The idea that creativity comes from purity may be familiar, but the connection between diligence and creativity may sound surprising. However, in my experience, creativity, diligence, and purity are closely intertwined. Creative thinkers are always curious and constantly question things.
“How can I solve this problem?” “Is the method I currently consider the best really the best?” People who ask such questions can see through the essence of a problem. To see the essence, one must be pure. To pursue the essence without being distracted by the superficial appearance of an object, one must look at it with a pure mind. The purity of pursuing truth without any other intention is the foundation of creation.
If purity is the basic condition, then the variable that greatly influences creativity is diligence. Diligence enables one to accumulate sufficient background knowledge. As an engineer, one must have sufficient knowledge of related topics to solve difficult problems. To solve problem B, one must understand not only similar problems such as B-1, B-2, and B-3, but also problems A and C, which may seem similar but are different. By combining B-1 and B-2, you can solve B, and A and C help avoid mistakes that lead you down the wrong path. I felt this deeply while writing my undergraduate thesis. While researching “impedance control,” I wasted a lot of time because I was unaware of the subtly different concept of “control using impedance.” To avoid such mistakes, consistent study is necessary.
In an era of rapid technological advancement, continuous learning is essential for survival as an engineering professor. To propose creative solutions to problems, one must possess the ability to constantly reconstruct and combine the background knowledge accumulated through diligent effort. As Edison said, creativity is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.
This may lead to the question: Can someone who is not diligent still think creatively? There are many people around us who appear to be creative despite not seeming diligent. However, if they achieved creative results without diligence, imagine how much more outstanding their achievements could have been if they had been diligent. I believe diligence acts as a catalyst that maximizes an individual’s creativity.
Ultimately, creativity requires two elements: diligence and purity. After reaching this conclusion, I was able to approach the field of engineering with renewed confidence. I came to the conclusion that creativity is more influenced by my own efforts than by innate talent. This conclusion freed me from my confusion and gave me even greater motivation. Now, I no longer stress about a lack of creativity. Even if I don’t have immediate flashes of inspiration while conducting research, I believe that I can find new solutions by studying steadily. Of course, there will be times when I need that 1% of inspiration as a seasoning.
However, this answer is not complete. As an engineer and scholar, I will always continue to ponder creative thinking. If this is the conclusion I reached as an undergraduate, it may be different when I become a graduate student. Therefore, I will continue to reflect on this issue and refine my thoughts through discussions with others. I hope this will be the first step toward finding the right answer through many discussions.
