Why working in pairs can be more productive
The Synthesiser-Generator Relationship
There is something powerful about working in pairs. I've always admired professional pairings, like the classic art director and copywriter duo in advertising. They seem to achieve more in less time.
In design, some people think collaboration only happens in workshops. This isn't true. The creative pair is a great unit for moving quickly and getting ideas out of the head and onto the page. It's a "more than the sum of its parts" situation. There's a name for this: pair design. One common form of pair design is the generator and synthesiser relationship. I loved discovering these terms to describe the modes that my collaborators and I often fall into. Like much writing on design, it calls out an intuitive behaviour and gives it structure, helping you to be more intentional.
So, what is it?
Essentially, in your design pair, one plays the role of the generator (Gen) and the other the synthesiser (Synth). The generator, as the name suggests, generates. They come up with lots of ideas, throwing them at the wall, in flow, trying to get stuff out with little judgment. The synthesiser, on the other hand, makes sense of things on the fly, takes notes, and helps keep the generator going.
These roles aren't rigid; you can swap back and forth. But the main takeaway is that it's much easier to have one person focus on each role rather than trying to do both simultaneously.
Have you ever been working alone and getting stuck and wanted someone to bounce ideas off? That's the desire to work in a Gen/Synth design pair. Synthesising your own thoughts and ideas as you have them is really hard. Every time you switch gears into sense-making mode, it halts the generative part of your brain, making it hard to get anywhere. Synth is about pausing and analysing, Gen is about movement and creating, you can't do both at the same time. There are ways around this, like mind maps, sketching, or writing on post-it notes. First, you do a brain dump, then you make sense of it and figure out what to do next. But you always need to swap between modes.
But what if, instead of working solo and switching modes, you had someone with you, supporting you and keeping you on track? Your generative sessions would be much more fruitful. Without having to stop and make sense of what you're coming up with, you could just keep generating. You could let go completely of the judgemental side of your brain, knowing that your synth buddy has got your back.
The Synth listens actively, not competing with the Gen to come up with ideas. But the synth role is also creative, and probably more difficult than the Gen role. It takes practice and intuition to capture what is coming from the Gen and determine what is unique or interesting. Then, they make subtle prompts and suggestions for deeper exploration. They might pause and play back what they're hearing in a short, clear form so the Gen can react afresh. It's a Yin and Yang relationship, and when it's in flow, it's a beautiful thing.
These modes can happen at any stage of the project, not just during idea generation. It could be about framing the problem, developing insights based on research data, or any stage of the project.
I often find myself playing the role of Synth. It's something I've been honing over years of facilitation and design jams. I love it. When it's done well, it feels like magic. Someone talks to you for 20 minutes or so, and you give them back a bunch of gold nuggets they didn't even realise they'd come up with.
Tips for Generators
Don't worry about perfection: Don't focus too much on getting the words right. Say it wrong first; you can fix it later.
Use visuals: Draw or sketch on a whiteboard as you think through and verbalise your ideas.
Throw out hypotheses: If you're coming up with insights, start throwing out possible hypotheses. You might ask them as questions, like "Perhaps users find this hard because X?"
Keep it conversational: Aim for the feeling of having an interesting conversation, not giving a presentation.
Discard freely: If something doesn't feel like it's working, feel free to throw it away.
Keep talking: Don't stop. Just start talking and see what comes out. A lot of it will be garbage, but there will be some gold in there too.
Be kind to yourself: Don't be hard on yourself if you feel like nothing is coming.
Shift perspectives: Go from the big picture to the microscopic details and back out again.
Follow your instincts: Trust your gut and see where it leads you.
Tips for Synthesisers
Capture ideas: Take notes or use post-its to capture what the generator is saying. Don't expect them to remember everything they say.
Ask follow-up questions: For things you find interesting, ask questions like "Why is that?" or "That's interesting, tell me more."
Reassure the generator: If the gen seems stuck, reassure them they don't need to get it right straight away. Say something like "Let's just get it down on the page."
Visualise ideas: Turn what's being said into visuals, like a journey, map, or diagram.
Playback for clarity: As you gain clarity, play it back with statements like "What I'm hearing is X." Validate and ask for clarification.
Nurture ideas: Don't shoot down ideas or thoughts as they come. Think of it as a garden—water the stuff you want more of.
You might organically swap from one mode to another, slipping from Synth to Ggen and back again. As you become more comfortable with your partner, this will happen more naturally. It's a supportive and reciprocal relationship.
Having the language of generator and synthesiser is helpful because it becomes something you can ask for. "I have some loose thoughts; I want to Gen for a bit. Can you Synth?" or "I feel like you've got an idea in your head that I'm not quite getting. Why don't you talk it out for a bit, and I'll Synth?"
It's a misconception that the only time to be creative in a design or co-design project is in a workshop, or that wanting someone to bounce ideas off means you're not smart enough to do it alone. Working in pairs can be the most efficient way of getting stuff done, and it feels great to support someone generating. When you find a good Gen/Synth buddy, you'll both feel twice as smart and creative and find the work twice as fun and fulfilling.
