“Go through the process” has become a life long personal and family mantra. When we don’t know what the outcome of a situation is going to be, we resign ourselves to the comfort of knowing – All we can do for now is – Go through the process.
In my experience, the design and development of a new product is a process that always takes longer than I think it will. From the rush of the initial idea to the end product is often a long way.
It’s not always possible to foresee problems, and I often start out optimistic for a quick outcome.
No true creative wants to copy anyone. Even though I want to be original and stretch my mind, there is a need for some research. Basic skills can be learnt. I don’t want to waste time reinventing the wheel, but I also like to have a fresh approach without pre-conceived ideas. So successful creative endeavors need a little bit of expertise and a little bit of out the box thinking.
Prototyping is an essential and valuable part of the making process for me. I am often amazed at what comes up in this exercise. The encouraging hints of what’s to come and the glaring glitches that raise their head too.
As a result I land up with a pile of process art pieces. The not quite perfect steps to the end product, significant, sentimental and appealing in their own way. I usually hang on to them for a while. But for what? I have to honour them as a vital part of the process and then be ruthless and chuck them out.
Here are some of the steps I worked through in a recent origami project:
I have learnt to value the process of thinking. When I hit a design problem, I stop makingand deliberately concentrate on thinkingthrough options. Often taking a complete break, and coming back again later brings fresh insight
The more I make something, the better I get at it. There is always a growth in skill as time goes by. Sometimes when I see the progress I’ve made, I relegate early production pieces into the prototype category.
And so these are my companions on most design process journeys:
Inspiration, anticipation, frustration, desperation, doubt, solution, testing, practice, production, repetition, therapy, boredom, completion, satisfaction, pride, joy. A creative roller coaster ride!
My creative process is quite slow.
I hear melodies in my head while I’m washing the dishes and I allow my subconscious to do the work.
Sinéad O’Connor
The creative process is a process of surrender, not control.
Julia Cameron