Still More On Both/And

Yesterday, I wrote a brief piece about the capacity for transcending either/or thinking as a hallmark of successful organizations, using design as an example.  Frequent commenter Michael Wagner wrote this:

Great obsession...I mean post,Tom! Looking forward to more.

The either/or portion of your observations reminds me of the "sex or cash" theory of Hugh McLeod's over at Gapingvoid, www.gapingvoid.com

THE SEX & CASH THEORY: "The creative person basically has two kinds of jobs: One is the sexy, creative kind. Second is the kind that pays the bills. Sometimes the task in hand covers both bases, but not often. This tense duality will always play center stage. It will never be transcended."

Maybe the "sweet spot" will be the undoing of Hugh's prophecy concerning "this tense duality" never being transcended.

Hugh writes about his idea here, and references it again, here.  I love the cartoon he uses to illustrate his point.

I think Hugh is correct.  Today, most creative people live in the sex/cash either/or. 

My thinking (hope?) is that as organizations and cultures evolve, a more holistic approach to creativity within a business context will also evolve.  Listen to Richard Rogers, architect of the Center Pompidou (pictured above):

It is impossible to divorce the building from its legal, technical, political and economic context.  At the same time, a major part of any design approach is the way constraints may be absorbed and whatever possible inverted into positive elements.

Rogers' recognition of the contextual nature of creativity (on an architectural scale) is an example of both/and: the architect must "absorb" the legal, technical, political and economic constraints for a building to truly be a "success."  I think the same is true for any product developed within a commercial context. 

As organizations become more comfortable with both/and approaches to problem solving, perhaps, as Michael put it, it will become possible to "transcend Hugh's 'tense duality.'"

Update: Read Dave Weinberger's dream about the development of both/and thinking.

Tags: Either/Or Thinking Design