The process of writing World History of Design

Title: How to Write a World History of Design

Step 1: Organize Information by Country

• Begin by grouping the vast project of a world history of design into manageable sections by countries.
• Create files for each chapter to keep track of information.

Step 2: Collect and Categorize Bibliographies

• Collect bibliographies over the years and categorize them for each chapter.
• Continuously add to the bibliographies as you conduct more research.

Step 3: Download Articles and Create Files

• Download relevant articles and organize them into files for easy access during the writing process.

Step 4: Use Note Cards for Outlining

• Read through the collected information and write down key points on 5x7 note cards.
• Use the note cards as an outline for the chapter.

Step 5: Visualize Information on Newsprint

• Sit down with a large pad of newsprint at the dining table.
• Transfer information from note cards onto the newsprint in a visual and nonlinear way to help organize the data.

Step 6: Create Diagrams and Clusters

• Use the newsprint to create diagrams and clusters of information.
• Identify how different pieces of information cluster together.

Step 7: Develop Linear Narrative

• From the diagrams and clusters, start thinking about the information in a linear narrative form.
• Arrange the diagrams on the wall to have a visual representation of the chapter structure.

Step 8: Write the Chapter

• Use the note cards and diagrams as a guide to start writing the chapter.
• Move back and forth between the note cards and diagrams as you write.

Step 9: Let the Story Emerge

• As you write, a story will naturally begin to emerge.
• The story is told through the process of gathering information, visualizing it, and finally writing the chapter.

Step 10: Finalize the Chapter

• Continuously refine and edit the chapter until it tells a cohesive and engaging story of the world history of design.

By following these steps, you can effectively write a comprehensive World History of Design chapter by chapter, using a structured and organized approach.