The art of ideation

Giambologna, the Flemish sculptor of the late renaissance, had just arrived in Rome when he famously took a small wax sculpture of his own to show Michelangelo. Inspecting Giambologna's model, Michelangelo proceeded to flatten it with his fist until it became a formless lump of wax. Once he had finished, Michelangelo handed it back to Giambologna, saying: 'Now go and learn the art of modelling before you learn the art of finishing'. And so with the art of ideation. First learn how to generate ideas with the help of drawing and modelling, then proceed to the finishing, or presentation stage of communicating the idea.

Ideation and healthy insecurity

Ideas are akin to propostions, proposals or suggestions, that is, the idea is not the same as the final outcome. Yet in communicating the idea, the ideator naturally wants to present the idea in such a way as to convince the audience the idea is worth supporting and taking to the next stage in the design process. Nonetheless, a modicum of uncertainty or common sense may be appropriate when communicating the idea without necessarily lessening its true potential or impact. Or, 'to succeed one has to be slightly uncertain, not sure of oneself, slightly in fear', says Frank Gehry, the American architect and designer. 'Of course - it's a healthy insecurity', Gehry continues: 'I think that's critical. When it becomes to precious and not real, it doesn't serve you well. As soon as you become sure about what you're doing, forget about it ...' (Frank Gehry; interviewed in The Times of London, July 10, 2021).