The aim of this study is to investigate the utility of a framework of selecting suitable creativity tools for designers according to personality attributes and design application. Five intuitive feeling (NF)
design engineers who share similar if not identical personality type, were observed while using lateral thinking, which is suggested as one of the suitable creativity tools based on this framework, to produce
ideas for a design task. The aim of this study is to understand the creative process that designers go through when using lateral thinking, and the perceived utility of this creativity tool in ideation by this
personality group. The analysis of the ideation process revealed creative thinking is an intuitive and
associative process where intuition and imagination are frequently employed by the intuitive feeling designers to construct the problem, trigger ideas or illustrate ideas. The subjects’ positive evaluations
towards the use of lateral thinking in ideation supported its utility, but factors such as ease of use and previous experience in using creativity tools should be taken into account when applying the framework.