The evolution of the now-to-new project model

All models are representations of reality

There is only one stage in the true model of the Creative Process. At the simplest level, creativity is the act of being and doing folded into a state of flow called life. I claim that we naturally spend all of our time in a state of flow, despite claims in the popular press to the contrary. Even when we’re analyzing a problem (in the Identity stage – see MG Taylor’s seven stage model below), we’re DOING something (in the Building stage), and employing tools of some sort (in the Using stage). We simultaneously embrace a rapidly evolving picture of what we want to do that unfolds just before we do it (in the Vision stage). See, it all folds together into one. What the popular press describes as a state of flow occurs when the execution of the creative process becomes jubilant, and consequently high performance.

This model has much in common with the great creator’s embodied model. The white section corresponds with possibility and the body above the heart. The black section corresponds with actuality and the body below the heart. MG Taylor sees insight linking the two, where I see love.

We divide the Creative Process into pieces in an effort to understand and picture the complexity of the entire process. But let’s not fall into the trap of believing that we actually execute the pieces in some sort of lock step fashion. It’s convenient and instructive to perceive that creativity has certain stages, and that we can all emotionally, physically and mentally relate to these stages, but to hold any model of the creative process as a precise description of creativity, and to force others to adhere strictly to its application is foolish.

Stuart Kauffman uses an expression to describe the difficulty of modeling any living system: “the algorithm is incompressible.” In other words, there’s no shorter method, routine or program to describe life or living systems than life or the living system itself. Models are representations of reality but they are not the reality itself. There is no algorithm or equation that we can force creativity into that is shorter than the creative act itself.

Bryan Coffman when at MG Taylor Corporation, referring to stages in the MG Taylor DesignShop process | View source

Now-to-New project model — Version 1, 1990s

This model is not as linear as it may appear. At every stage, each of the other stages is given careful consideration. Matters of adoptability and implementation are considered when evaluating ideas, and Now is compared with New throughout. Generally, New remains constant while Now evolves, although New is always open to revision.

Version 2 — early 2000s

In this and subsequent versions the emphasis is on generating maximum value for customers or users and other beneficiaries. There is considerable but unintended overlap with the generic design thinking framework:

Specify Requirements corresponds with the design thinking phases Empathise and Define
Design Concepts corresponds with Ideation
Conduct Experiments corresponds with Prototype and Test
Make Plans corresponds with Implement
Take Action corresponds with Implement

Version 3 — 2010s

The Creative Lifecycle is analogous to human procreation, development and maturity.

Readiness – preparing for the moment of conception – makes its first appearance. I referred to it as Groundwork until this version.

Version 4 — 2025

The great creator’s embodied Now-to-New model.

Readiness remains as a precondition for activation of the seven powers.

Each of the seven powers is associated with a specific location in the body | Read more

Dual torus image sourced from Michael C Grasso and decoloured | View source and read about Grasso’s Menorah Matrix

Faith (the secular kind) is a precondition for awakening the superpower Transcend the Mundane, which in turn activates the superpowers Create the Great and Enrich the World.

Read about the imperative of faith and believing without believing