The pencil case model of creativity

A researcher envies her friend's seemingly more creative graphic design job, but realizes through their conversation that both careers involve constraints and creative problem-solving. The author discovers that creativity isn't about absolute freedom but rather about finding innovative solutions within limitations—whether that's designing within client requirements or conducting research within academic frameworks. She recognizes she had abandoned her awareness of the creativity already present in her academic work, such as synthesizing research concepts and collaborating with supervisors to identify themes.