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.