Design process learning and creative processing ability: Is there a synergy?

We present a study where we have analyzed the change of design process knowledge and creative processing skills in our engineering students. Overall, our findings indicate that while our students significantly improve their design processing knowledge during sophomore, and junior years of their engineering education, in the senior year, what had been gained is possibly being lost. Likewise, while there is an increase in creative processing skills in the sophomore year, for junior and senior years, what is gained is lost. As a result, senior students may be leaving the university with less design processing knowledge and creative processing abilities than they had while they were sophomores. We believe that our study can be a foundational reference for researchers and educators who aim to increase our graduates' creative design outcomes.