CARE Innovative Action is a long term programme, aiming to investigate innovative ideas for ATM that could be applied from now up to 2050. Some preliminary studies have been commissioned by Eurocontrol. The Crea! project intends to continue and complete the activity performed in the study project Art, design and technology: an inter-disciplinary approach for innovation in ATM, conducted under the EUROCONTROL CARE Innovative Actions programme.

The main objective of the study project was to define an inter-disciplinary approach to design in ATM that encourages intersections between art, design and technology borrowing from each discipline practices, methods and experience for the definition of innovative concepts.
The preliminary study defined a level of envisioning, pointing out three hypotheses of transition from the current ATM scenario to more visionary and futuristic scenarios. From these hypotheses, the study focused on solutions that can be appropriate in the control and advisory scenarios, and that can be both implemented in the short term and elaborated to fit the medium term.

The CREA! project continued the work started with the initial study, consolidating the proposed methodology and developing mock-ups and interactive prototypes of innovative design concepts. The work was carried out in close collaboration with air traffic controllers, who evaluated the prototypes and provided feedback and advices to develop concepts and refine solutions. The work was undertaken by a consortium comprising:

• Deep Blue – coordinator of the project
• ENAV Spa – the Italian Agency for Air Navigation Services
• Communication Science Dept. – University of Siena, Italy
• A team of independent experts, subcontracted by Deep Blue
• Domus Academy – hosting the Master in Creative Design