Every transformation appears to begin with a simple observation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is a current state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And there is a possible state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What exists today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And what could exist tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everything else sits somewhere in between.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A chair becomes a ladder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A product becomes a platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A scarf becomes a hooded vest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before the transformation occurs, there is an existing state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After the transformation occurs, there is another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Transformation can be difficult to understand when we focus only on the movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sometimes it becomes easier when we first identify the states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most transformations appear to have a starting point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Something that exists today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yet they also appear to have a possible future state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Something that does not yet exist, but could.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The space between them may be large or small.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Simple or complex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yet the existence of both states provides a useful place to begin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When people talk about transformation, attention is often placed on the final result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What was achieved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What emerged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yet understanding transformation may begin with a different question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What was the original state?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And what was the possible state being moved toward?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Within the Transformative Design research, the current state was often referred to as State A.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not because it was better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not because it was worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Simply because it existed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It provided a reference point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A place from which transformation could be observed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The possible future state was referred to as State B.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not as a prediction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not as a guarantee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But as a possibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A potential destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A state that may emerge if transformation occurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the challenges when studying transformation is that movement can appear confusing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Multiple changes may occur at once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Different pathways may emerge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unexpected outcomes may appear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Identifying State A and State B provides a way to frame the transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to simplify it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But to make it easier to observe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Imagine observing a transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before asking how it happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before asking which bridge was crossed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before asking which approach was used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A simpler question may be useful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is the current state?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And what is the possible state?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The answers often reveal more than expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the most useful discoveries during the research was realising that transformation became easier to study once the states became visible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The movement between states still mattered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The bridges still mattered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The transition states still mattered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yet identifying the states themselves provided a foundation from which the transformation could be understood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Every transformation appeared to begin somewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And every transformation appeared to be moving somewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Transformative Design (2008)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An exploration of states, transition states and the movement between possible forms of existence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Explore the Original Research) <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A chair becomes a ladder. A product becomes a platform. Before transformation can be understood, it may first be useful to identify the current state and the possible state.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":5094,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[121],"tags":[123,127,143,144,125,122,140,124,132],"class_list":["post-5095","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-transformative-design","tag-change","tag-design-thinking","tag-state-a","tag-state-b","tag-systems-thinking","tag-transformation","tag-transformation-theory","tag-transformative-design","tag-transition-states"],"yoast_head":"\n