This study investigated the phenomenon of the nocturnal study habits associated with academic requirements on creativity, and its role in prompting students to be night owls. A paper based questionnaire survey was administered to students in a design college by using a self-rated creativity survey that focused on productiveness in the creative process. The results indicate that about 79 per cent of the students in the design college were accustomed to remaining awake until late at night prior to the due date of assignments. We also discovered that academic time constraints drive creative students to adopt the habits of night owls. When working late at night, most of the students (over 50 per cent) tended to focus on the verification stage of the creative process rather than incubating new ideas. Most of the participants claimed to be more creative after midnight (00:00-06:00). Finally, we noted that remaining awake until late at night to manage academic requirements on creativity may lead to a notable improvement in flexibility and elaboration of creative thinking. The results of this study may serve as the basis for further research into the creative processes associated with the field of design education.