Selecting the most appropriate tool for the job is the key decision. Well-applied technology may ultimately lead to a more creative solution, but sometimes it might have the opposite effect. Rarely can we attribute an innovative design to the actual hardware or software used by a designer. Almost always we need to credit the individual or the team working on the project. Talented designers need freedom to do their thing, and with many firms eagerly adopting and promoting the use of computers, we often see situations where designers don't have a choice in their selection of tools, and creativity can suffer as a result.
Computers can obviously improve our productivity.
They also can directly improve our level of service and responsiveness to our clients by directly improving the quality of communication between individuals, organizations and project teams. However, computer software doesn't necessarily improve the creative process, but if applied intelligently and with a clear and simple strategy, a smart array of computer tools can help us craft a work environment that encourages creativity and innovation in problem-solving. Creativity and innovative ideas come from within the individual, and they have a direct relationship to the individual's state of mind and, more specifically, the environment in which he or she works. The computer also can give the designer access to information, whether through the Internet or even something as simple as an internal library of project drawings and details. In addition, one of the computer's great strengths is that it allows us to explore a greater number of alternatives in a given amount of time.