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Shape of Design: How and Why - Coggle Diagram
Shape of Design: How and Why
The mistake of a creative person who places too much focus on How to create her work, while ignoring Why she is creating it.
Illustrated by parallel between author's work and mockingbird mimicking a car alarm, not forming her own song
"Why is usually neglected, because How is more easily framed." (23)
a finished piece "frequently acts as a seductive screen that distracts us from this higher level of investigation...We are tempted by the quality of the work to ask how to reproduce its beauty....Beauty is palpable, while intentions and objectives are largely invisible." (24)
ladder metaphor: we must talk about the middle rungs between the start and finish of the piece, where the artist makes a series of choices
How vs Why: a symbiotic relationship
questions about why unearths a purpose and develops a point of view; motivates
Referred to also as Far, Thinking, Strategy, Analysis, Purpose
the importance of why:
"Experience is to understand the importance of context, and to know which methods work in which contexts...Variation in context implies that it is just as important to discuss Why decisions are being made as to How they are executed." (24)
"Why questions not only form the bedrock for learning and improving, but are also the foundation for inspiring ourselves and others to continue to do so." (26)
Reading Rainbow--teaching kids why to read rather than how
"The space between [How and Why] could be described by the gap of enthusiasm between simply understanding phonics and reading a book that one identifies and loves." (26)
questions about how to do things improves craft and elevates form; enables
Referred to also by Near, Making, Execution, Craft, Form
"Blocks spring from the imbalanced relationship of How and Why; either we have an idea, but lack the skills to execute; or we have skills, but lack a message, idea, or purpose for the work." (26)
"The creative process, in essence, is an individual in dialogue with themselves and the work." (21)
illustrated by painter in his dance of switching contexts, where being Near the canvas is equated to How and Craft and being Far from the canvas is equated to Why and Analysis
artist near work: concerned with production
artist far from work: enters a mode of criticism