Throw a Handful of Darts

In any complex organization … 
especially a non-profit …
especially in the arts …
… decision-making is complex.

Planners and designers need to give committees choices. Usually, creative contracts call for “three options”. But in our studio, we find three is not enough. The bigger the committee, the more ideas you need for people not to like.

Our presentations are a fleeting chance to get ideas across to that committee — one of which they will choose.

I think of the to-be-chosen idea as a balloon, floating in a dark room, behind a closed door. Our presentation is like opening the door for a moment and trying to hit that balloon with a dart.

How do we make sure we’ll hit it?

We throw a handful of darts, all at once.

As we close the door, we listen for a pop.

Here’s the thing:
Complex organizations need more than the usual three options to make good decisions. When you need to hit a balloon in a dark room with a dart, you throw a handful of darts.

Warmly,
Jonathan