Creative Work as Seen Through the ATHENA Competency Model

TL;DR

The ATHENA model helps develop creativity and complex skills by linking theory to practical training in areas like design and facilitation.

Contribution

ATHENA introduces a systemic framework with 60 competency facets and three modules to align theoretical skills with real-world training.

Findings

ATHENA's framework includes five dimensions and 60 facets for diagnosing and developing competencies.

Case studies in graphic design and workshop facilitation show how ATHENA supports practical training.

The model connects psychological theories with instructional design for creativity development.

Abstract

This article introduces the ATHENA competency model, a systemic framework designed to conceptualize and support the development of creativity and complex skills in professional and educational contexts. Creativity, increasingly seen as essential across sectors, requires the coordination of cognitive, motivational, emotional, social, and sensorimotor resources. ATHENA conceptualizes competencies as emergent, agentic behaviors, not static possessions, arising from the coordination of five dimensions: cognition, conation, knowledge, emotion, and sensorimotion. These are subdivided into 60 facets, each described across four progressive mastery levels, enabling fine-grained diagnosis and developmental roadmaps. To operationalize this framework, ATHENA includes three modules: Skills, which models the requirements of professional tasks; Profile, which analyzes learner populations and contextual constraints; and LEARN, a repertory of pedagogical activities linked to ATHENA facets. The article illustrates the system through two case studies of creative job activities—graphic design and workshop facilitation—demonstrating how ATHENA aligns abstract competencies with practical training interventions. The model bridges theoretical research in psychology, creativity, and education with instructional design. Future work aims to refine its applicability, scalability, and cross-cultural relevance.