Anticipate but...
The first element in my alphabetic mnemonic list for successfully practicing design is: Anticipate But… This involves a dance between two forces – preparedness and stillness. Consider meetings, for example. They’re a regular fixture of any architecture or design practice. It…
Create Courage
The “C” element in my alphabetic mnemonic list for successfully practicing design is: Create Courage. Design is a journey to a new place. New means risk. Why go there? If you don’t have a reason to take a risk, you won’t. Courage means having a bold vision that overshadows the…
Delight in Diversity
The “D” element in my alphabetic mnemonic list for successfully practicing design is: Delight in Diversity. Why is diversity in design practice so often simply tolerated rather than enthusiastically embraced? If your business is business as usual, you might think of diversity as…
Engage Enthusiastically
The “E” element in my alphabetic mnemonic list for successfully practicing design is: Engage Enthusiastically. Are you enthusiastically engaged and passionately sharing the work you are doing? If you’re not feeling fully engaged in your work, and you’re not enthusiastically…
Find the Figure
The “F” element in my alphabetic mnemonic list for successfully practicing design is: Find the Figure. When was the last time you were accused of not seeing the forest for the trees? In our caffeinated, attention-deficit inducing Information Age, the deluge of imagery in our…
Get Grounded
The “G” element in my alphabetic mnemonic list for successfully practicing design is: Get Grounded. Riddle: What do electrical work and artistic painting have in common? Answer: They both require being grounded. Granted, they have very different grounding techniques, but the…
Humans have needs
The “H” element in my alphabetic mnemonic list for successfully practicing design is: Humans Have Needs. When was the last time you were somewhere you thought you didn’t belong? Probably within the last 24 hours. I’m talking about buildings and places where your comfort as a…
Improve Iteratively
The “I” element in my alphabetic mnemonic list for successfully practicing design is: Improve Iteratively. In the design process, what happens after you have that big “aha!” moment? Arriving at a core concept or gestalt idea for a project is exhilarating, but if you don’t know…
Knit together
The “K” element in my alphabetic mnemonic list for successfully practicing design is: Knit Together. What does “Architecture” (with a capital A) have that transcends mere building? Architecture is the knitting together of people and ideas to create places of profound richness…
Leave Leavening
The “L” element in my alphabetic mnemonic list for successfully practicing design is: Leave Leavening. Most times the best answers (and designs) are open-ended and invite further inquiry. Ever been in a conversation with a “know-it-all”? First, it’s not really a conversation if…