Creativity as a Drive for Change

Abstract

This article argues that society as a whole and planning in particular need more creative responses to the problems and challenges they face. Planning needs creativity to imagine and to construct (structurally) different futures. First, the article briefly analyses two case studies: the Hasselt case as an example of creative transport planning and creative local governance; and the Perth case as an example of distorted creativity. Then the article questions the nature of planning creativity needs and looks for a systematic method. Scenario building turns out to be an excellent tool for conceiving possible futures and their processes, what must be changed first and what next. Just as there are many traditions and collective practices there are also many images of what a society wants to achieve. As the opportunities for implementing images are not equal the article reflects on a planning annex governance system that serves all citizens and especially the least powerful. All this has an impact on planners as well. In the final part, the article touches briefly on some preconditions for creativity, on how it could be enhanced and on how realistic the discourse itself is.