Introduction

This short weblog introduces Supporting Creative Minds in Urban Planning (SEMINAL) project, its main goals, and ideas. It explains why rethinking creativity in planning is crucial and what SEMINAL is set to achieve in the next two years and how. You can also find some information on the project's host, collaborators and funders.

EP.01 Why Do We Need to Talk About Creativity?

In the first episode of Seal on the Beach podcast we explore the current dominant narrative around creativity in planning and outline in detail why we think it's time to change that. We discuss what gaps in understanding of creativity in planning SEMINAL project aims to address and what future episodes will be about.

Two Takes on Creative Urbanism

'Creative urbanism' or 'creative urban planning' is not a popular phrase among either the public or the planners themselves. Yet, a handful of writings exist in planning that tried to define what creative urbanism means. In this blog, we review two accounts which are epitomes of narratives around creativity and urbanism of their time.

Creativity; AI System’s Achilles’ Heel

Claiming, that we humans are the only ones who can be creative has been historically our first line of defence against the rise of machines. Our interest is more a self-defence mechanism than an interest in creativity itself.

EP.02 A Very Short History of Creativity

In this episode, we provide a very short history of creativity. We discuss definitions, ideas and their progression through the decades.

EP.03 That Report (Herbert Simon on Creativity)

In this episode, we delve into the report he published along with Allen Newell and Cliff Shaw on the processes of creative thinking.

EP.04 About that Man (Herbert Simon)

This episode is about Herbert Simon, his background, his work, Chicago school and violin varnish! In this episode we try to apply Simon's own theory of creativity to the work of Simon himself.