2..1  Creative Philosophy: Creativity is the molten state where new ideas, shapes, spaces and solutions are born.   The white heat required for this activity is sometimes created by the necessities of the situation and sometimes by the inspirations of the individuals involved in the process.  If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen, or hire a good cook.  New materials, new types of construction and changing needs in offices, classrooms, housing, etc. mix in a melting pot looking for practical and innovative resolution.  Sometimes we add the salt and sometimes the pepper to come up with the zest needed to bring everyone to peak performance.  Sometimes creativity is only needed in dealing with situations, budgets, and contractors.  At other times the whole design and construction process requires innovative understanding and solutions.

2.2  Design Philosophy:   Good design costs no more to build than poor design and sometimes even less.  The difference is the ability, care, and coordination of the architect and the client.  There are two sides of the human brain and two areas of design; a.) Practical and b.) Aesthetic.

A. Practical Mind:  Construction involves both physical and non-physical aspects of material and space.  It is the space between materials that humans habitate within the ergonomic and aesthetic realms.  The physical materials and forms are the harsh realities of construction and need to be understood as a pallete buildable by common craftsmen.  An architect that understands the materials and the craftsmen involved in construction is very much more cost effective to a client than one who can just draw pretty pictures.  The ergonomic properties include circulation and sensing of the space.  Circulation is important in allowing and directing people through the building and also in the level of comfort provided in stationary and moving ease and perception.  Sensing of the space is the interactive affection of the people with the building and it is both rational and intuitive.

B. Intuitive Mind:  Aesthetics in architecture is an almost undescribable term since descriptions come from the rational side of the brain.  Art, beauty, & aesthetics stem from the intuitive and irrational side of the brain and from the human emotions and spirit. The practical design of a straightforward bridge design vs. the aesthetics of a gracefully arched or suspended bridge are hard to compare in equal terms.  The "value" of art and aesthetics transcends practical matters and can be the character and life of a community. The Golden Gate Bridge is such an example. What value can be placed on the worth of that bridge in terms of meaning to the area and the economy?  If it cost more than another more practical design was it worth it?  The best of both worlds is achieved by a designer capable in practical and aesthetic design.  Placement of bricks and mortar has fixed costs. Placement in terms of good practical and aesthetic design may cost no more in construction terms, only in time and ability of the architect.

Good design in the long run can is always less expensive in construction costs and provides much better utility than poor design.  Smart design can be good design and less expensive immediately also.  The difference is in the awareness and desire and perhaps the cost of the design.  In other words money spent on good design increases the value of the money spent on the construction of the facility as much or more than the cost of design.  A good designer goes through hundreds of logical and aesthetic calculations and considerations to fine tune and tailor a building to make it as useful and cost effective for the client as possible.   Trial and error in real life construction and use would take scores of years to accumulate that much improvement at much greater long term costs.