issue no. 39

trust the process

I often think about process and how differently we all approach it. Whether it’s a bedtime routine, cooking a meal, or sitting down to design a space, it is integral to how we live. We use stimuli from our external and internal worlds to cultivate ideas and decisions for how best to approach something. A method so fiercely diminished through “tools” like AI. You know my thoughts (objections) on this subject, which you can read more about in issue # , so I will try my best to stay on task.

There’s so much to be said about the creative process in general and our individual, unique ways of integrating it. Most importantly, there is no right or wrong way, although many self-proclaimed gurus love to co-opt ancient wisdom as their own profundity (e.g., bearded white men – here’s looking at you, Rick Rubin). But from what this middle-aged white woman can tell, the most viable fuel for creativity lies rooted so deeply in curiosity.

I’m by no means the first person to say this but I do think it’s worth repeating. We spend so much time focused on outcomes- financial, education, spiritual, etc., when we could be better suited to sit awkwardly in the gray area. Sitting quietly, guided only by our intuition, discovering for discovery’s sake, no longer focused on a result, we invite potential. We welcome the opportunity for meandering, rabbit holes, tangential discoveries, happy mistakes, accidental encounters, and ultimately, ideas.

You can go with this…

Q: “What does A + B equal?”

A: “That’s an excellent question, given your genius ability to ask excellent questions. The solution to A + B is A + B = C.  

Would you like me to show this equation using an image of pipe cleaners?”

Or you can go with that…

Q: What does A + B equal…

Q: if A saw a hot stranger on the way to meeting B, tripped on the sidewalk busting a tooth,

Q: heading to the dentist only to find the hot stranger was the dentist…

Q: and then B, waiting for A, misses the bus

Q: and that bus ends up getting into a terrible accident?

Personally, curiosity is the motivation for all the work I do + what’s kept it interesting for so long. I get ads all the time about quick renderings done in seconds: “show your clients multiple options in minutes!” Thank you, but that’s not why I got into this.

I consider myself very privileged to work in a creative field. If I wanted quick results + finite answers, I would’ve been a banker. But I’m firm in my belief that the people who appreciate process will seek out those of us who are obsessed with it. Also, if you don’t enjoy the process of your own creativity - why are you doing it?

Move over! Make room for those who relish in the unknown, who take time to learn + understand, and continue to expand. Make space for those of us naive enough to continue to desire to leave the world better than we found it.

Could curiosity be the salve to heal our earthly wounds?

Sometimes I get so frustrated by the fact that we don’t all just sit around talking about what an insanely incredible thing our existence is. No matter your beliefs, the fact that we are alive within this universe is the most fascinating thing there is. And I wonder, if we all wondered about this more, out loud, as part of our daily practice, as a study, would this world be a little different? Would we be kinder, more patient, more intuitive, more adaptable, more creative? Zoom out to zoom in.

For example, there are currently five new experiments being proposed by Oxford quantum physicist Vlatko Vedral that could very well change everything we know about gravity + the space-time continuum. Like, I’m supposed to learn that + then be stressed about a tax deadline?  

As designers + architects the thing we should be most curious about is our clients and the users of the spaces we create. When we approach a project thinking we already know the solution, we dismiss any curiosity, ultimately diminishing not only our creativity but the true potential for what the space can be.

As a designer, I am inherently a problem solver. While there is artistry in what I do, I differ greatly from a true artist. Whereas a painter’s desire for self-expression is influenced only by one perspective, I adapt to cultivate + interpret my Clients’ most aspirational vision. These creations are completely meaningless without the input + understanding of the people I design for.

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As children we question everything, begging to understand why things are the way they are, but the more knowledge we gain the more assumptions we make. I invite you to reconnect with the child mind.

Let’s get back to being so open + honest about the wonder of knowing just how little we truly know.

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