Incomplete Manifesto for Growth – My 11 favorite quotes

The Incomplete Manifesto for Growth is a design manifesto that has been written by Bruce Mau in 1998. There are in total 43 points that summaries ‘beliefs, strategies, motivations and design process of Bruce Mau Design practice. 

I think the text is very inspirational not only for designers and ‘creative’ people. I picked my 11 favorite quotes but you can read all 43 points here.

(1.)Allow events to change you. 
You have to be willing to grow. Growth is different from something that happens to you. You produce it. You live it. The prerequisites for growth: the openness to experience events and the willingness to be changed by them.

(3.) Process is more important than outcome. 
When the outcome drives the process we will only ever go to where we’ve already been. If process drives outcome we may not know where we’re going, but we will know we want to be there.

(6.) Capture accidents. 
The wrong answer is the right answer in search of a different question. Collect wrong answers as part of the process. Ask different questions.

(10.) Everyone is a leader. 
Growth happens. Whenever it does, allow it to emerge. Learn to follow when it makes sense. Let anyone lead.

(16.) Collaborate. 
The space between people working together is filled with conflict, friction, strife, exhilaration, delight, and vast creative potential.

(17.) ____________________. 
Intentionally left blank. Allow space for the ideas you haven’t had yet, and for the ideas of others.

(18.) Stay up late. 
Strange things happen when you’ve gone too far, been up too long, worked too hard, and you’re separated from the rest of the world.

(19.) Work the metaphor. 
Every object has the capacity to stand for something other than what is apparent. Work on what it stands for.

(25.) Don’t clean your desk. 
You might find something in the morning that you can’t see tonight.

(37.) Break it, stretch it, bend it, crush it, crack it, fold it.

(43.) Power to the people. 
Play can only happen when people feel they have control over their lives. We can’t be free agents if we’re not free.