AHFE Open AccessCreativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Editors: Michael Lowe, Yan Luximon
Topics: Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship
ISBN: 978-1-964867-82-3
DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1007225
Table of Contents
The City as a Learning Platform: Student Projects and Knowledge Creation in Small Municipalities
This article examines collaboration between the City of Heinola and higher education institutions as a learning and development platform in the context of a small municipality and as a mechanism of municipal competence and knowledge management. Between 2021 and 2025, approximately 120 student projects (n≈400 students) were implemented, linked to the city’s strategic objectives such as sustainability, service renewal, and strengthening participation. The study is a qualitative case study combining document analysis, survey data, and strategic and financial documents, complemented by a self-assessment–based maturity analysis. The case is analyzed through the frameworks of the learning organization and the SECI knowledge-creation model, supplemented by helix thinking. The findings indicate that Heinola’s model is positioned at maturity level 3/4 (“partnership and systematization”), suggesting that collaboration has become institutionalized within municipal governance structures. Student projects support service development and organizational learning, and the phases of the SECI cycle are identifiable, although the systematic embedding of results varies. Evidence of long-term impact remains limited. The theoretical contribution of the article lies in demonstrating that student-project-based micro-interventions can form the core of a small municipality’s learning infrastructure and generate a lightweight helix-type mini-ecosystem without heavy institutional structures.
Keijo Houhala, Vesa Salminen, Jari Stenvall
Open Access
Article
Conference Proceedings
Forecasting Future Skill Requirements for Education Staff with an AI Agent
Digitalization is changing the future of work and the skills required at work, which challenges the ability of educational organizations to anticipate skills needs. Häme University of Applied Sciences has launched development work to build an artificial intelligence agent to support experts in understanding future skills needs. Artificial intelligence operates as part of a complex adaptive system, in which the interaction between humans and artificial intelligence changes the dynamics related to educational planning and the anticipation of skills needs. This is a transformative change, in which a new actor changes structures, bringing with it adaptability, continuous learning and data-driven decision-making. This change has implications for roles, skills, processes and the logic of decision-making. The article examines how an artificial intelligence agent is changing the educational planning system, and what kind of skills or abilities its optimal utilization requires from both pedagogical leaders and teachers. In addition, we examine how artificial intelligence can support the building of unit and organizational competence.
Henna Tanhuanpää, Heidi Ahokallio-leppala, Vesa Salminen
Open Access
Article
Conference Proceedings
Understanding How AI-Assisted Evaluation Influences Innovative Processes, Collaboration, and Creative Confidence in Design Education
Generative AI is increasingly embedded in design practice, yet its effects on convergent stages such as concept screening and selection remain underexplored in team settings. This study examines how a transparent AI co evaluator shapes screening practices, collaboration, and creative confidence in design education. We conducted a mixed-methods workshop where design student teams ranked ideas, then reconsidered choices after AI feedback. ProSight is a co-evaluator that returns rubric scores with brief evidence-linked rationales from each concept’s image and description. Teams reviewed the feedback, discussed agreement and conflict, and finalized selections. Data sources included ranking trajectories, pre post surveys on trust in AI, teamwork collaboration, and creative confidence, as well as post task discussions and interaction logs. Across groups, AI input rarely replaced initial preferences, but it shifted how options were compared and justified by making evaluative criteria more explicit and surfacing considerations that were less salient in early deliberation. Participants treated the AI as a credible reference for reflection and justification, but verified suggestions against intent and constraints, and kept authority over trade-offs and final decisions. The findings clarify how explanation rich AI can support reflective screening while reshaping collaborative dynamics in time limited group decision making.
Jiayue Wang, Jiawei Li, Lin Zhu
Open Access
Article
Conference Proceedings
Co-Creating Institutions in Space: How Patient Capital and Entrepreneurial Action Shape New Markets
This study examines how new institutions and markets can be created in deep-tech domains characterized by extreme uncertainty. We focus on the interaction between government venture capital (GVC), as an institutional instrument for implementing public patient capital, and entrepreneurs. While prior research has accumulated insights on the functions and institutional design of GVCs and on entrepreneurs' activities and decision-making processes separately, theoretical examination focusing on their interaction remains limited. In particular, it remains unclear how the underlying behavioral logics of each—predictive and planned causation as investor logic versus means-driven and improvisational effectuation as entrepreneur logic—can be effectively integrated in practice. To address this question, we conducted a theory-informed case study of the collaboration between Astroscale, a Japanese space startup, and the Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ), a GVC. Drawing on interviews, archival sources, and comparative surveys, the analysis identifies four mechanisms of interaction that enabled institutional co-creation such as strategic dialogue, staged financing with flexible evaluation, hybrid governance through public–private syndication, and narrative translation aligned with policy frameworks. These mechanisms transformed uncertainty into institutional meaning, advancing Astroscale from a technology venture into an institutional actor. The study contributes to entrepreneurship and innovation policy research by reframing patient capital as an active institutional translator and situating effectuation within broader processes of institutional emergence in frontier markets.
Nobuo Kanai, Yuriko Sawatani
Open Access
Article
Conference Proceedings
Evolution of Retail Space in Bulawayo: The Rise and Impact of Small Lettable Unit Shops
Urban deindustrialisation in Zimbabwean cities has created vacant commercial spaces alongside expanding informal economic activity. In Bulawayo, this has contributed to the emergence of Small Lettable Units (SLUSs), informal micro-retail spaces inserted into former industrial and commercial buildings. This paper examines the evolution, benefits, and challenges of SLUs using a qualitative case study approach based on field observations and semi-structured interviews in selected inner-city locations. The findings show that SLUs enable the adaptive reuse of underutilised buildings, provide affordable retail space for informal traders, and contribute to inner-city economic activity. However, regulatory ambiguity, infrastructure strain, and tensions with formal planning standards remain. The paper argues for more flexible planning and governance approaches that recognise informal retail as a permanent feature of deindustrialising cities.
Tiisetso Dube, Partson Paradza, Benita Zulch
Open Access
Article
Conference Proceedings
Investigation of the effect of reflection triggered by psychological uncertainty in a design project
In design projects, perceiving and responding to uncertainty is vital for success. Uncertainty includes objective informational uncertainty and subjective psychological uncertainty. While psychological uncertainty can foster exploration, it is often overlooked in traditional reflection methods. This study introduces a new reflection approach using psychological uncertainty as a trigger and examines its effect on perception and decision-making. A controlled experiment with 27 students tested three conditions: 1) the group used “hedge words” as linguistic cues for psychological uncertainty; 2) the group self-extracted utterances based on felt uncertainty; and 3) a Control group. This study investigated how psychological uncertainty changes through reflection and influences judgment. Results showed that the group that extracted psychological uncertainty effectively maintained an accurate perception of uncertainty and had a higher rate of recognizing the need for discussion. The group that used “hedge words” was better at calibrating perception by reducing excessive doubt, though its narrow focus led to some informational uncertainty being overlooked. When limited to hedge-word utterances, the group that used “hedge words” demonstrated the highest precision in judgment. The reflection method triggered by psychological uncertainty effectively helps practitioners cope with uncertainty. In addition, developing a more accurate extraction approach for psychological uncertainty could lead to more effective reflection.
Akira Ito, Ryuei Koh, Rei Takemoto, Shigeki Saito, Yuki Taoka
Open Access
Article
Conference Proceedings
Determining the potential of AI in generating visionary innovations by observing Generation Z
Contemporary product development is currently undergoing a profound paradigm shift triggered by rapid advances in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). In an era where dynamism and speed determine market success, the pressing question arises regarding the true potential of this technology for generating innovation and for the field of entrepreneurship. This study examines this transformation process through a pragmatic research approach: the observation of so-called Generation Z. As “digital natives,” these individuals have grown up with digital technologies and should, in theory, exhibit the highest adoption rate for AI tools. As part of a case study at the Munich University of Applied Sciences, Generation Z students were tasked with innovation projects to determine, through a combination of behavioral observation, results analysis, and subsequent surveys, to what extent AI is capable of supporting the process from initial idea to visionary innovation. The focus here was deliberately on revolutionary rather than evolutionary approaches, on generating visionary innovations that go beyond incremental improvements. The results make it clear that AI’s greatest value currently lies in visual inspiration and the communication of complex visions of the future, while original creative work continues to require synergistic interaction between humans and machines.
Andreas Eursch
Open Access
Article
Conference Proceedings
Analysis of resource requirements in business planning using Futurability Education approach
This paper examines the organizational and methodological resources required for business enterprises to formulate business plans and product concepts based on the principles of Future Design. While Future Design emphasizes long-term and intergenerational perspectives in decision-making, little empirical research has systematically analysed the resources needed for its practical application in business planning contexts. To address this gap, this study analyses a Future Design–based workshop conducted in a corporate setting. The workshop was designed as a short-term, educational intervention that enabled participants to explore business plans from both an extended present perspective and a future-oriented perspective more than 20 years ahead. Visual facilitation through graphic recording was incorporated to support shared understanding and reflection. Empirical analysis draws on questionnaire responses from participants and video recordings of workshop discussions, allowing for both quantitative and qualitative examination of deliberative processes. The findings identify several key resources that support effective Future Design–based planning in business settings, including structured facilitation, visual representation of discussions, and diverse team composition. These elements enhance reflective dialogue, clarify trade-offs between present and future perspectives, and improve the overall quality of decision-making. This study contributes to the literature on Future Design by clarifying the resources necessary for its implementation and provides practical implications for long-term-oriented business and innovation planning.
Saga Masaki, Kurashiki Tetsusei
Open Access
Article
Conference Proceedings
A Geneplore Model-based Taxonomy of Digital Tools for Supporting Creative Design Processes
Creativity is a central driver of design and innovation, increasingly mediated by digital technologies. As artificial intelligence becomes embedded within contemporary design environments, a growing range of digital tools supports creative activities across different stages of the design process. However, existing studies often treat AI-based and traditional digital tools as separate categories, overlooking their functional continuity in shaping creative cognition. To address this gap, this study proposes a taxonomy of digital tools for creative design grounded in the Geneplore model of creative cognition. Based on a systematic literature review of 19 studies, a total of 57 digital creativity support tools were identified and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The framework distinguishes between tools facilitating generative processes and those supporting exploratory processes, and further organizes these functions into eight cognitive support dimensions. The resulting taxonomy maps digital tools to specific components of the creative process, revealing how different tools scaffold ideation, exploration, and refinement in design activities. By articulating the cognitive mechanisms underlying digital creativity support tools, the framework provides a theoretical basis for analyzing, selecting, and designing AI-augmented creative systems. The study contributes a structured perspective on how digital technologies mediate creative design processes and offers guidance for integrating AI and traditional tools within creativity support environments.
Mengkun Bi, Chengcheng Ma, Min Hua
Open Access
Article
Conference Proceedings
Lumora Cards: An Annotated Portfolios-Based Design Tool to Support Novice Designers in Integrating Smart Materials into Interactive Physicalization
Smart materials have been widely studied for interactive physicalization, yet novice designers lack support in integrating them effectively. This study introduces Lumora Cards, a tangible interface combining physical material samples with annotated portfolio guidance to facilitate heuristic exploration. The cards map 180 design elements across five stages, enabling context-appropriate material selection. In a 12-day workshop with 32 novices, quantitative results showed that Lumora Cards significantly enhanced creativity, confidence, and perceived usefulness. Qualitative findings provided actionable methods for workflow integration. This work offers both a theoretical framework and practical tools for applying smart materials in interactive physicalization design.
Zhiyu Li, Xiaoyu Zhang, Qingyu Hu, Haiqing Xu, Jiamin Guan, Yuanfang Rong, Yuzhen Hu, Xipei Ren
Open Access
Article
Conference Proceedings
Catalyst Theory-Informed Design Methods for Community Health Science Communication Services
As the fundamental unit for disseminating health science, the effectiveness of community-based services is of critical importance. However, the traditional “top-down” model of science communication often suffers from low resident engagement, challenges in translating knowledge into practice, and issues of service sustainability. This paper explores how Catalyst Theory—an intervention philosophy originating from urban design—can provide an innovative methodological framework for designing community health science communication services. The study first reviews the value of Catalyst Theory in the field of “service and social innovation.” Then, through case analysis, it identifies four core catalysts within community health science communication: “space, activity, digital, and interpersonal.” Based on this, a design framework consisting of four stages—“catalyst diagnosis, catalyst network construction, progressive activation, and impact evaluation”—is developed. This research offers a novel theoretical perspective and practical design tools to address the challenges of participation and sustainability in community health science communication service design.
Zhaoyi Kang, Mengfei Liu
Open Access
Article
Conference Proceedings
Turning the Water–Energy–Food Perfect Storm into Business Opportunities: A Blockchain Framework for South Africa
This study examines the “perfect storm” of simultaneous water, energy, and food (WEF) resource challenges in South Africa from a business and entrepreneurial perspective, leveraging blockchain technology. The study aims to analyze the state of the WEF perfect storm in the Republic of South Africa and develop a blockchain-enabled business framework to identify and exploit new entrepreneurial opportunities. The research is grounded in Dynamic Capabilities Theory, emphasizing how firms can adapt, innovate, and reconfigure resources in complex environments. A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was employed as the qualitative research method. Findings indicate a moderate intensity of the WEF perfect storm in South Africa and support the development of a six-component integrated blockchain business framework for resource optimization. The framework comprises (1) Market Gap Analysis, (2) Product Configuration and Differentiation, (3) Business Case Justification, (4) Digitalization of Administration, (5) Smart Contracts, and (6) Digital Sustainability. The study concludes that the resource crises represented by the perfect storm can be transformed into business and innovation opportunities. It recommends the establishment of a Living Lab within South African WEF agencies to facilitate experimentation, collaboration, and entrepreneurial value creation.
Love David, Nnamdi Nwulu, Clinton Aigbavboa
Open Access
Article
Conference Proceedings