Episode 13: Building Without a Finished Vision

What happens when you start a build and you don’t yet know what it’s going to become?

In this episode, I explore the long middle of the creative process. The stretch of time when the work is underway, decisions are being made, but the final vision hasn’t fully formed. You’re not stuck, you’re not blocked, you’re building. But the ending isn’t clear yet.

Drawing from design research on ill-defined problems, reflective practice, and thinking-in-action, I talk about why this stage feels uncomfortable, why it’s completely normal, and why waiting for full clarity before beginning can sometimes stall the very insight you’re hoping for.

At the bench, this shows up in small, reversible moves. Testing before committing. Letting materials respond. Narrowing uncertainty instead of eliminating it. Learning to recognize when a decision has earned permanence rather than forcing it prematurely.

Building without a finished vision isn’t a flaw in your process. It’s a legitimate and well-documented mode of creative work. And in miniature practice, where small shifts in placement, light, and texture can reshape the entire scene, it may be one of the most powerful ways to work.