Working on a box of donuts

It seems from the perspective of a designer that initiating a design concept sometimes seems identical as undergoing a personal or business initiative. In both cases the goal is uncertain and not always achievable, but one always demands a high-quality end result.

Considering methods that could provide the initiative or design of a certain level of quality is often seen as a logical step. This step seems to reduce the uncertainty of the person in question, because of the feeling of control over the final quality. The speculation about methods, plans and roadmaps in this case, give some guidance and certainty on unknown roads.

But does it really? Or does this so-called ‘certainty guidant’ in fact work counterproductive? See, my experience is that the speculation about the ‘how to’ or philosophize about the concept of quality in times of uncertainty actually leads to a mental block.

We can endlessly discuss the possible methods, worry about quality or critical remarks on production and design methods or what could be the correct way. As long as it is not put on paper, these talks end in discussions without actually producing or achieving anything at all.

I therefore advocate trusting the intrinsic qualities that you have as a designer, entrepreneur, or initiative taker and to talk less and more to produce more. The first sketches carry the potential for quality and innovation in itself and never serve as a direct response to a particular end. Some sketches seem more relevant or brighter than others.

So stop talking about it and just do it! Go ahead! Draw and write walls full of possibilities and then select which idea you want to achieve quality and innovation with, trust in yourself and put the next step! In this respect, production is far more relevant than the guarantee of quality in an efficient production – or design.

In architecture this is called ‘rapid prototyping’. It is a way to create freely and fast without considering all the matters that work as obstacles in the process. This way things are actually put on paper in which in a later phase one can reflect on it and critically analyze it.

It is a kind of brainstorming, but in a more physical and visual form. Personally, for me, this is really interesting as well as all unused prototypes can be archived or categorized. Just going after what now looks like all unused ideas from a brainstorming session, could be ideas that are very useful later.

In this way, the unused ideas contribute to the development of a fixed value for a company. Experiences and ideas are stored for later to be deployed. This makes your business more efficient and intelligent. It allows it to create a database of knowledge. In this way one can also reverse the process. Namely, one doesn’t achieve practical results because one has a good idea, but one realizes concrete ideas because one strives a good end result and because one is free to create.

My personal conclusion of this? Well, besides archiving a catalog or portfolio of projects already achieved I will also archive ‘to be realized’ projects e.g. ‘potential ideas and concepts’: a donut archive!

This will be presentable and thus suitable for a series of lectures and moments when these ideas can be realized or reach a certain level of urgency. Like a box of donuts of different flavors that you can correctly enjoy at the right time! One with sugar icing, one with cinnamon, one with chocolate etc. Bon appétit!

Lets start archiving our perspectives and use them to predict our future!