Convergence

CHAPTER 8PRACTICAL AND INEFFABLE

It’s not just the element of place, but also each moment in time presents a convergence of potentials and challenges, and these specifics are translated through concepts and tectonics into a unique architecture.—Chris McVoy, Senior Partner at Steven Holl Architects, on their design approach¹

Starting with both divergence and convergence, divergent thinking is associated with evolution, ideation, and creativity, whereas convergent thinking comes into play when one is required to make a decision, or choose a course of action. In the world of creativity, “convergence is most important during the stage when ideas are being ironed out and made tenable.”² Convergence takes the novel and impractical and makes it practical and useful. According to the authors of Wired to Create, “convergence refers to the ability to conform, put in the hard effort necessary to exercise practicality, and make ideas tenable. Convergence consists of high conscientiousness, precision, persistence, critical sense, and sensitivity to the audience.”³

1 Deutsch Insights, Practical and the Ineffable Convergences, 2017.

This book has explored convergences in contemporary design practice that now occur at the meeting of two seemingly opposite forces.

2 Deutsch Insights, ...