Preferred State
Rather than fix problems, get a clear vision of the world you want and create that.
we all seem to be good at identifying problems, but the other side of that coin—the inverse of a problem—is the solution we want to see. This pattern talks about how to define that and make it visual and inspiring.
If we don’t have a clear vision of the future we’re trying to create, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to create it.
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The purpose of a vision board is to define and illustrate a “preferred state,” so that everyone involved can easily visualize what they are working to create. The reason we bring in imagery is that they help us to truly visualize the future we want to create. We need to be able to see it in our mind’s eye.
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Vision boards are well-known in the self-help world. The idea is that if you’re clear about where you want to go, you can get there. [[ Visualization ]] is a big part of that.
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In addition to a personal vision board, we need to be making vision boards for every project we work on, and also to get the big picture for our world goals. Take time to define your preferred state for the world. What would the natural world look like? How would our world systems operate? What would life be like? As best you can, create images of our amazing future. Buckminster Fuller’s big-picture preferred state was (and I’m paraphrasing) a world that works for all humanity where we all live at the highest standard of living with no one interfering with or benefitting at the expense of another or the planet. His image for that was not so much drawn as described: Spaceship Earth.
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This all has its roots in the idea of defining a “preferred state” as part of the design process.
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If you focus on the problem you’re trying to solve, you’re focused on the failures of the system you’re looking at. Alternatively, if you focus on how the system should function, you’re focused on success.
“Beginning with the ‘Preferred State’—what the system should be doing if it were healthy and functioning the way we want it to, is starting with the goal and direction. It is a more powerful problem solving method, as it does not exclude as many options from potential strategic designs and plans.” (Gabel, p. 47)
In defining a preferred state, don’t worry about whether there is the political will to create the change or whether it’s a practical compromise: “suspend all constraints except for those of technological feasibility and maintaining ecological integrity.” (Gabel, p. 47)
“Defining a Preferred State can be a simple brainstorming game. Extensive research and technical analysis are unnecessary for determining what you want. As Russell Ackoff points out, ‘there are no experts for what should be.’ Everyone has an equal right to contribute and help form the goals in the planning process.” (Gabel, p. 47)
- A preferred state generally takes the form of a list of objectives, but we strongly suggest that you make a visual representation of each objective. You can find existing images online, cobble something together from several sources, or draw it yourself.
Therefore:
Before you focus on a problem, get a clear vision of what the world will look like when that problem is solved. Find or create visual representations of your goals and make them available to everyone involved in the project.
Ideally, a group would Brainstorm ideas for this, judging the best ideas using your Sense of Livingness; if this is part of an Open Artifacts project, make sure you document your shared vision for others who come to the project later; as a check, look at the Motives behind your goals