During my professional life I have collected several guidelines that continue to shape the way I see innovation or any other design task. They are my informal and personal design process. Yet, I’ve never knew a better and broader compilation than this: Bruce Mau’s Incomplete Manifesto for Growth. (still a bible to many)
Bruce Mau’s 43 points are pure wisdom, a big part of them play a critical role in the design process I believe. And my favorites are:
16. Collaborate.
The space between people working together is filled with conflict, friction, strife, exhilaration, delight, and vast creative potential.
” 17. ____________________.
Intentionally left blank. Allow space for the ideas you haven’t had yet, and for the ideas of others.”
29. Think with your mind.
Forget technology. Creativity is not device-dependent.
34. Make mistakes faster.
This isn’t my idea — I borrowed it. I think it belongs to Andy Grove.
42. Remember.
Growth is only possible as a product of history. Without memory, innovation is merely novelty. History gives growth a direction. But a memory is never perfect. Every memory is a degraded or composite image of a previous moment or event. That’s what makes us aware of its quality as a past and not a present. It means that every memory is new, a partial construct different from its source, and, as such, a potential for growth itself.
The complete manifesto is here:
http://www.massivechangenetwork.com/#TheIncompleteManifesto