DESIGN PURGATORY

Hello from Cesme, Izmir, on the Aegean coast,

There’s something about looking at the expanse of the sea that opens up the mind.

Open vista, open mind.

It made me think about what I love best about the design process—the forward trajectory of creativity as it moves towards the unknown.

Design is movement.

That movement is from today to tomorrow.

From what you know to what you imagine.

Instead of things coming at you, it is you moving towards a new idea.

Designing your life is you happening to life, instead of life happening to you.

We know this but still let life happen to us. Why?

Fear of the unknown.

Fear of making mistakes.

Fear of being judged.

__________________ (add yours here.)

One of my mentors, Jim Long, who was the director of research at Herman Miller, had a wonderful term for this: Design Purgatory.

Design Purgatory is the liminal space?between originality, beauty, usefulness, and the same old same old.

Purgatory is when your client or boss hits the pause button, hesitant to move forward with a new idea because it’s uncharted territory. It’s when our past successes, or failures, inhibit us from starting something new and exciting. It is staring at a fork in the road, wanting to choose growth and learning, and yet are pulled back by the comfort of the familiar.

Purgatory can also be many small inactions that prevent big actions—inactions like not calling or emailing someone, delaying hiring a coach, postponing buying a ticket, or avoiding a conference or a dinner.

You know you're in Design Purgatory when you have cold feet, feel overwhelmed, are exhausted despite no real progress when you talk but don’t act.

I speak from personal experience; I’ve been in Design Purgatory many times.?

I’ve learned that action is better than inaction:

• Move forward by design. Make things happen intentionally, thoughtfully, and resourcefully.?
• Play seriously. You have wisdom—couple it with a childlike curiosity. Learn by doing.
• Collaborate. Invite others to join in the making your ideas real. Find people who accelerate you, drop the people who hold you back.
• Say yes. Do the uncomfortable with joy.?

Onwards!

Ayse

"You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” — Maya Angelou

For our design programs, please email Leah Caplan, VP, Design and Project Planning, Birsel + Seck, at?[email protected].

For coaching engagements, please email Jacquelyn Lane, President, 100 Coaches, at?[email protected].

For speaking engagements, please email Nancy Aaronson at?[email protected].