Complexity based design
Complexity-based design is a theory and assembly of methods and tools to increase user engagement through distributed discovery and ideation, aiming to prevent prematurely determining the answer to a defined problem. Holding experiences at a more finely grained level and choreographing semi-guided interactions between people, artefacts and ideas that allow for exaptive co-evolution where applicable. This is a dynamic, shifting process that happens naturally, but can be managed.
""When we look at problems only as scientific or technical in nature, removed from the context to which they are responding, they may be complicated, but they generally can be solved through straightforward, scientific and engineering design models. But, when we understand these problems as embedded within human contexts that organize themselves through changing social, political, economic, and cultural belief systems, we are in the realm of complexity". Ann Pendleton-Jullian & John Seely Brown, Design Unbound – Designing for emergence in a white water world
Name and history
Dave Snowden's collaborative work and writing around design thinking & complexity date back to his earliest work at IBM, evolving frequently thereafter. "I promised to address this yesterday following a presentation on Design Thinking at the conference here in Ohio... I started talking about the differences that complexity theory makes to design thinking some time ago – In Malmo at the XP conference as I remember it – and have now introduced that material in modified form onto day four of our accreditation programme. I should make it clear this is early thinking and I know that people like Ann (who is with me here) are working on this as well and I am really looking forward to her new book on the subject with another good friend John Seely Brown." - https://thecynefin.co/design-thinking-complexity-pt-1/
Prior knowledge
List of concepts and necessary understanding to use the assembly. This includes:
- Complexity theory including Anthro-complexity
- Exaptation and innovation theory
- Design principles for managing complexity apply
Supporting Theory - field of practice, philosophy, contextualisation in complexity
- Design thinking, reinterpreted through a complexity lens
- Humanistic design principles and methods
"In a very important sense, then, from the perspective of material engagement, cognition has no location. The active mind cannot be contained. Cognition is not a “within” property; it is a “between” property." - Malafouris How Things Shape the Mind MIT Press 2013 p85
Core assembly methods
Core Methods in this assembly include:
- Exaptive innovation techniques including Exaptive triggers
Assembly flows / Combining methods
- Hexie approach – methods to be combined and re-combined
- Typical flow/s - fundamental phases/parts to the process with notes re which Methods are used where. May be graphical especially if not linear.
- Special cases / alternative flows
- Any special heuristics and principles for combining and recombining methods
Facilitation skills required
Facilitation skills required - please note any special skills or complex facilitation experience and if so, what this should focus on. General principles are set out in in the facilitation article.
Do's and don'ts
Simple bulleted list including common mistakes Practices, tips, heuristics, do’s and don’ts etc
References
Articles/Books
- How Things Shape the Mind: A Theory of Material Engagement. By Lambros Malafouris - MIT Press 2013/2016 https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262528924/how-things-shape-the-mind/
- Design Unbound – Designing for emergence in a white water world. Ann Pendleton-Jullian and John Seely Brown, MIT Press 2018.
Keynotes, Videos and Podcasts
Blog posts
- Design thinking & complexity pt 1 - Dave Snowden, October 3, 2013. Outlines Dave's reservations with classic "design thinking".
- Design thinking & complexity pt 2 - Dave Snowden, October 4, 2013. Dave looks at the implications for design thinking through a complexity lens, shifting from a linear process to a non-linear dynamic.
- Design thinking & complexity pt 3 - Dave Snowden, October 5, 2013. Dave unpacks exaptive innovation and some practical applications.
- https://thecynefin.co/thinking-about-design-thinking/ - includes the 2x2 design matrix
Cases/3rd Party Material
- Communicating the Complexity of Design using Cynefin - Alex Britez, Oct 27, 2018. https://abritez.medium.com/communicating-the-complexity-of-design-part-1-cynefin-6279f074ca9c
- What would a new Agile Manifesto look like? Ale Magno, May 18, 2021. Discusses the importance of understanding and responding to different contexts.
Related methods and approaches
This section is intended for third party approaches that may help gain insight into the method. Any methods that are on the wiki should be referenced in the above sections.
Method card material
Front page description
Methods to increase user engagement through distributed discovery and ideation.
Back of card summary
Complexity based design is a theory and assemblage of methods that & tools aims to prevent prematurely determining the answer to a defined problem. Holding experiences at a more finely grained level and choreograph semi-guided interactions between people, artefacts and ideas that allow for exaptive co-evolution where applicable. This is a dynamic, shifting process that happens naturally, but can be managed. Methods include distributed ideation, sensing unarticulated user needs and exaptive innovation techniques.