The main objection I have to the negative process (can't be done) is that is so often bogus. "Proof by lack of imagination". I guess it works for Richard, though not for Michael's architect, because Richard is able to catch his bogus reasoning *and he is willing<i></i>* to do so, which requires humility and ego-strength.<br>
<br> - Conal<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Sun, May 24, 2009 at 6:35 PM, Michael P Mossey <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:mpm@alumni.caltech.edu">mpm@alumni.caltech.edu</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div><div></div><div class="h5">Richard O'Keefe wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
Design-by-negativity can *be* a way of being creative.<br>
I've lost count of the number of times that I've been<br>
explaining to someone why something can't be done, and<br>
suddenly realised that one of the reasons was invalid<br>
and seen how to do it.<br>
<br>
The key is not whether you explore the design space<br>
from a positive end or from a negative end, but whether<br>
you *explore* it.<br>
</blockquote>
<br></div></div>
Hi Richard,<br>
<br>
I think we using "positive" and "negative" in a bit of a different sense (which may be my fault for not explaining perfectly in the first post). There are both positive and negative *facts* about design. There are things you can do, and things you can't. These are facts. I'm referring more to a specific kind of process (a specific kind of exploration)---in my terms, "design by negation" means that you dominant activity in design in cutting away possibilities, and what's left (however awkward) is what you must build. I have done this by habit, but I would like to shift into a mode of design that is focused on construction rather than destruction---to view design as an opportunity to meet most goals by clever combining of facets.<br>
<br>
Thanks,<div><div></div><div class="h5"><br>
Mike<br>
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