I have three ‘modes’ through which I work, and continually have to work.
I phrase
I architect
I design
For basically every problem I take on, I must remind myself to switch between ‘modes’, to prevent myself from getting stuck.
Phrasing
Phrasing can take the shape of a piece of text, or a verbal explanation
It can take the shape of a poem, or prose
And within that, it can be conversational, or ‘presenter’-like
To simply describe a problem or solution
Look for the words
Fail to find words
And stumble across analogies
I find myself finding new perspectives
Remind yourself to phrase what you’re thinking
Architecting
Architecting is the act of abstractly deconstructing the problem
In a flowchart or outline
Or sometimes code
It’s breaking the problem and solution up into logical sequence of steps
Thus making the problem smaller and smaller
To eventually stumble on a new insight
Or simply the realisation that things are simpler than they seem
Remind yourself to logically break down a problem, and visualise the elements
Designing
Designing is the act of visualising a solution, so that it takes shape in your head
It can be a simple sketch
Or an advanced rendering
A first imperfect approximation
Of what the solution could look like
And in designing and creating that visualisation
You immediately see the bits where things don’t make sense
Note those down, as areas to think deeper
Remind yourself to design the end solution, looking as if it were done.