This summer, I had many projects planned and now that it’s almost August, I can’t help but feel anxious.
With only one month left to finish these projects before Labour Day, I’m reminded of an old blog post I wrote about the benefits of lateral thinking.
Can my “lateral thinking” since May (three months of what some might call procrastination) provide the clarity and, more importantly, the speed I need to complete everything on time?
Revisiting the concept of lateral thinking, I find myself reflecting on the creative process and how it intertwines with what is often seen as procrastination. Instead of rushing through tasks, allowing myself the space to think laterally has led to unexpected insights and solutions in the past.
As the summer starts winding down, I can’t help but regret my ambitious project list and my less-than-ambitious progress.
It turns out my approach this summer leaned a bit more toward good old-fashioned procrastination rather than the noble art of lateral thinking.
Here is the old post….
Lateral Thinking requires procrastination.
Not the kinds where one scrolls hours looking at social media feeds but the constructive kind that leads to insights and solutions to issues.
I am one of those people who want things done “yesterday .”Although it has somewhat(?) positive connotations in our busy lives, there are definitely unfavourable consequences to my impatience.
Typically, my impatient nature pushes me to do things earlier, way before the deadlines. In other words, I do not procrastinate, at least with necessary, easy, and urgent tasks, for example, picking up milk. (Very urgent)
Seeing the daily task items with check marks next to them gives a false sense of progress and achievements while feeling uneasy knowing that I have not started working on the most critical/time-consuming/ unclear task: creative work.
Whether staring at a blank sketchbook trying to fill it with some design solutions to new architecture projects at my office, or writing weekly blog posts, my usual approach to tackling it immediately disappears.
Instead, procrastination creeps in.
Recognizing that “checking off” is impossible next to many iterative processes in creative work, I subconsciously avoid starting the job at all and then head out for an unrelated/easy/definitely not urgent task: an afternoon walk.
While feeling guilty about writing procrastination and even more guilty about enjoying the walking time, I feel somehow more energized, coming back from the walk. Occasionally, I come back with solutions and insights to writing/designing issues I struggled with before the walk.
Recently, I learned a new favourable term describing my negative tendency-procrastination towards creative work- Lateral Thinking.
What is Lateral Thinking?
Lateral Thinking differs from the typical thinking process (often called vertical or logical Thinking) in several ways:
1. Approach: Lateral Thinking encourages a more playful and open-minded approach. In contrast, typical Thinking relies on established logic and linear reasoning. For example, brainstorming ideas vs. seeking one solution to a problem.
2. Solutions: Lateral Thinking seeks creative and unexpected solutions, while typical Thinking seeks the most logical or conventional answer.
3. Breaking Patterns: Lateral Thinking intentionally breaks away from established thought patterns and encourages looking at problems from multiple angles, often leading to unconventional insights.
4. Risk-Taking: Lateral Thinking often involves taking risks and exploring uncharted territory, whereas typical Thinking tends to stick to proven methods and concepts.
For example, designing a building with energy efficiency and sustainability to be “built-in” and creating a sculptural waterfall using rainwater would be a lateral thinking approach rather than a conventional approach of installing a new water fountain to make the presence of a new main entrance.
Lateral Thinking involves approaching problems and challenges with a creative and unconventional mindset.
In contrast, typical Thinking relies on established logic and conventional solutions. It’s a valuable skill for innovation and problem-solving in various fields.
Lateral Thinking is required in creative work
In the creative field, like design, it is not only “valuable” but an absolutely “must-have” item.
The creative process is inherently winding and unclear. It’s like a twisty maze where you don’t always know the destination.
As a design instructor, I often find myself telling my students to keep questioning their “WHYs.”
I vividly remember a conversation with my students during a design class. They were tasked with creating a unique art installation for a local park. The process was long and inconclusive, with students debating the purpose and meaning behind their ideas.
One student even asked, “Why does art have to serve a purpose?” It led to a lively discussion about the nature of art and design, its role in society, and its ability to evoke emotions and provoke thought.
This kind of meandering conversation is precisely where lateral Thinking thrives.
It encourages us to explore the unconventional, question assumptions, and unlock the hidden potential within the creative chaos.
It’s not optional; it’s the compass that guides us through the intricate creative journey.
Getting comfortable with unclarity
The famous expression “Trust the Process” is like a beacon for the creative soul, reminding us that blind faith is an absolute must-have item in the creative journey.
Innovative ideas aren’t conjured out of thin air; they emerge from the confused depths of countless iterations, uncomfortable moments, and meandering paths. It’s in the uncertainty, the foggy landscapes of the creative process, where the magic happens.
Take, for instance, the story of one determined student grappling with a challenging project. Faced with creating an eco-friendly playground, she toiled through countless iterations of ideas, many of which led to dead ends.
It was in her willingness to embrace the unknown that the breakthrough occurred. One day, she took an unusual stroll through a park she had never visited.
It was at that park that she spotted a discarded shipping container. In that moment of serendipity, the solution emerged – the container would become the centrepiece of an upcycled, sustainable play structure.
Trusting the process and being open to its meandering nature ultimately led to a creative destination beyond what she initially envisioned and struggled throughout.
This faith, which she did not have at the beginning of the journey, paves the way for genuinely innovative and satisfying ideas to surface.
Final Thought
Lateral Thinking (aka procrastination) and creative work are like the dynamic duo of innovation. These ideas work together harmoniously, but only if we’re willing to embrace the discomfort of the meandering process that leads to our final creative destination.
Creativity isn’t a linear journey; it’s an intricate maze of twists and turns where we’re often unsure of our exact path.
But it’s precisely in this uncertainty that lateral Thinking thrives, opening doors to unconventional ideas and uncharted territories of imagination.
Now, about us impatient folks who want to finish our creative work “yesterday” – well, maybe that’s our unconscious way of starting the lateral thinking process. After all, isn’t the anticipation of the creative endeavour that eventually leads us to explore new avenues, even if it involves procrastinating, Lateral Thinking?
Perhaps my impatience is just the first step in the amazing maze of lateral Thinking, where we learn to embrace the beauty of the journey as much as the destination.
Life Outside of Design Studio 