Cognitive ability-creativity relationship in interior architecture and landscape architecture programs and the effects of education on creativity

Creativity is a multifaceted process of interaction that is difficult to achieve and that everyone needs to experience for themselves. Intelligence, lifelong education, environmental/social factors, interacting in an environment full of creative people and many other possibilities can directly contribute to creativity. Despite the advances in technology, neuroscience and artificial intelligence applications, the need for creative and intelligent human brains will continue in the coming centuries. Creativity is one of the qualities expected in every profession, and in design-oriented departments, the main expectation is to produce extraordinary, original and creative products/ideas. This study, whose main purpose is to examine the relationships between the individual's cognitive ability, creativity and creativity sub-dimensions in interior architecture and landscape architecture education, presents a new approach to measuring the creativity of individuals working in design-oriented fields. The research sample consists of first-year students who started their education in Antalya Bilim University Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design, Akdeniz University Department of Interior Architecture, Akdeniz University Department of Landscape Architecture and Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Department of Landscape Architecture in the academic year 2021-2022. The total number of students participating in the study was 216 in the fall semester and 139 in the spring semester. Cognitive Ability Test, Creativity Measurement Test-1 and Creativity Measurement Test-2 developed for students studying in design-oriented departments were designed as data collection tools. The findings reveal the creativity and cognitive abilities of students admitted to interior architecture and landscape architecture education before education, as well as examining how their creativity changes after the design-oriented education. As a result of all the research findings, suggestions are presented both for educators to develop creative education fields and for individuals to develop their creativity and cognitive abilities.