The Soul of the Problem

It has to feel pretty, before it looks pretty.

Whenever you’re solving a creative problem, from writing a paper to designing, you should be aiming for the soul of the problem. The first thing that should happen when you look at something you’ve made is that you feel something. It should feel pretty before it looks pretty.

It has to feel as though they are on the verge of meaningful discovery.

Often, when I need to deliver substantive, meaningful creative output, I start thinking of how it should look to the person who encounters it. But it turns out that enough people, even if few, will eventually look at something if it’s put out there. But for something to also resonate with people, it has to feel pretty. That is, it has to feel as though they are on the verge of meaningful discovery. And then it has to deliver something meaningful. It’s the difference between seeing someone attractive from afar and meeting them. The second experience will hold your immediate interest for much longer than the first. The second is far more memorable. With the second, you’re a lot closer to learning something worth carrying with you.

So, for whomever your work is intended, first make sure they feel something. They’ll remember you for it.