The Design of Design: Essays from a Computer Scientist

20. Where Do Great Designers Come From?

John Cocke (1925–2002), computer geniusIBM Watson Research Laboratory

Genius will live and thrive without training, but it does not the less reward the watering pot and pruning knife.

MARGARET FULLER [1820–1850], DIARY ENTRY

Every man who rises above the common level has received two educations: the first, from his teachers; the second, more personal and important, from himself.

EDWARD GIBBON [1789], MEMOIRSOF MY LIFE AND WRITINGS

I have just argued that great designs come from great designers, not from great design processes. Although technical designs are now always the work of teams, we still identify ...