The paper gives a brief overview of the creativity supporting methods of potential interest to process engineering community. Information about computer implementations of the presented methods is introduced as well. Creative problem solving can be broadly classified into intuitive and analytical methods-the paper suggests the analytical approaches to creative problem solving as the most promising group for process engineers. Special attention is given to TRIZ, a popular method for systematic creativity. Classical TRIZ needs to be modified in order to be used in a specialised domain such as process engineering. We discuss the changes needed and illustrate the application of the modified TRIZ to the design of inherently safer chemical processes. A discussion of the advantages and drawback of creativity enhancing methods in the context of process engineering is also presented along with directions for future development. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.