Architects: What makes a creator an architect? These creators identify openings and as blank-sheet-of-paper builders, they construct solutions from the bottom up. They have the unique ability to see vacancies and envision how separate parts can fit together to form new logical designs.

Architects hunt for what is missing. They pay attention to what others ignore. They ask Why? Architects don’t dismiss inconsistencies, they seize upon what they detect. They unpack assumptions and test different variables to order new solutions. They perform rigorous questioning and retain a child-like curiosity, asking if something can be done differently.

Leon Musk of SpaceX wondered why space rockets cost so much. He started with asking “What are rockets made of?” He learned that the costs of the materials on the market was less than 2 percent of the cost of the finished rocket and that most rockets were built for a single launch. He was convinced he could make a cheaper rocket. He began building a reusable launch vehicle piece by piece. When he hit snags in acquiring components he started making them in house. Today SpaceX manufactures 80 percent of the parts in house, one at a time. Musk had never made any physical thing before he started building rockets.

Today SpaceX holds more than $1.6 billion in contracts from NASA to re-supply the International Space Station, has 36 launches on order, employs 3000 people who design and build rocket engines. As a self-taught engineer, Musk has built a rocket and capsule that cost 1/10 as much to launch as the space shuttle.

Architects are problem finders. Musk found that homeowners could not afford the cost of solar panels. His company SolarCity designs, installs, and monitors solar panels and partners with banks and large companies to offer financing.

“Where is the pain?” Architects ask. Sara Blakely knew personally. Cutting the feet out of her pantyhose to wear them with open-toed shoes, she found they crept up her legs as well as being extremely uncomfortable at the waistline.   She found there were others doing the same to keep the smooth look of the pantyhose under slacks. Touring the pantyhose mills personally she found that manufacturers put the same average size waistband on all sizes of pantyhose to cut costs. She had a better idea but no mill owners took her seriously until one was talking with his daughters over dinner and they told him he should help this girl with the idea. Spanx was born!

Blakely asks her employees to forget everything they know and consider how they would do something if they knew nothing about doing it. Her company has created the Spanx Bra-llelujah by asking these questions. Sara Blakely became the world’s youngest self-made female billionaire.

Architects think all the time. They think about better use of anomalies than most of us. Architects detect discrepancies and run with them asking questions. Architects strip away layers of preconceived notions. They deconstruct notions and reconstruct, building from the bottom up.

Future article……Integrators…….stay tuned!