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…
Balance Beautifully
The “B” element in my alphabetic mnemonic list for successfully practicing design is: Balance Beautifully. Whether you’re arranging flowers or designing a building, this concept is crucial. We tend to think of balance as a state of harmony between extremes. We find it with…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Own it. Share it.
The “O” element in my alphabetic mnemonic list for successfully practicing design is: Own it. Share it. As it relates to design, ownership is about an emotional or intellectual relationship. It is incumbent upon designers to engage all project participants along the way,…
Practice Passionately
The “P” element in my alphabetic mnemonic list for successfully practicing design is: Practice Passionately. When you are “in the zone” of your craft, you feel it, and others do too. Cultivate it. If you’re not engaged in what you’re doing, no one else will be either. If you’re…
Question
The “Q” element in my alphabetic mnemonic list for successfully practicing design is: Question. While clients most often seek answers, they may be best served by questions. Rarely is it beneficial for designers to accept things at face value. It is only through asking questions,…