Every transformation appears to begin with a simple observation.
There is a current state.
And there is a possible state.
What exists today.
And what could exist tomorrow.
Everything else sits somewhere in between.
Seeing Transformation As States
A chair becomes a ladder.
A product becomes a platform.
A scarf becomes a hooded vest.
Before the transformation occurs, there is an existing state.
After the transformation occurs, there is another.
Transformation can be difficult to understand when we focus only on the movement.
Sometimes it becomes easier when we first identify the states.
The Beginning And The Possibility
Most transformations appear to have a starting point.
Something that exists today.
Yet they also appear to have a possible future state.
Something that does not yet exist, but could.
The space between them may be large or small.
Simple or complex.
Yet the existence of both states provides a useful place to begin.
Looking Beyond The Outcome
When people talk about transformation, attention is often placed on the final result.
What was achieved.
What changed.
What emerged.
Yet understanding transformation may begin with a different question.
What was the original state?
And what was the possible state being moved toward?
State A
Within the Transformative Design research, the current state was often referred to as State A.
Not because it was better.
Not because it was worse.
Simply because it existed.
It provided a reference point.
A place from which transformation could be observed.
State B
The possible future state was referred to as State B.
Not as a prediction.
Not as a guarantee.
But as a possibility.
A potential destination.
A state that may emerge if transformation occurs.
Why States Matter
One of the challenges when studying transformation is that movement can appear confusing.
Multiple changes may occur at once.
Different pathways may emerge.
Unexpected outcomes may appear.
Identifying State A and State B provides a way to frame the transformation.
Not to simplify it.
But to make it easier to observe.
A Different Way Of Looking
Imagine observing a transformation.
Before asking how it happened.
Before asking which bridge was crossed.
Before asking which approach was used.
A simpler question may be useful.
What is the current state?
And what is the possible state?
The answers often reveal more than expected.
A Personal Observation
One of the most useful discoveries during the research was realising that transformation became easier to study once the states became visible.
The movement between states still mattered.
The bridges still mattered.
The transition states still mattered.
Yet identifying the states themselves provided a foundation from which the transformation could be understood.
Every transformation appeared to begin somewhere.
And every transformation appeared to be moving somewhere.
Explore the Original Research
Transformative Design (2008)
An exploration of states, transition states and the movement between possible forms of existence.
(Explore the Original Research)
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