Learn to Think in Color

  Can You Design Something to Take on a Life of Its Own? Why Intentional Design Might Be the First Step Toward Emergence What if your creation grew beyond your control? The idea of designing something that takes on a life of its own sounds like science fiction—but it’s increasingly part of our real-world design discussions. From algorithms that learn and adapt, to ecosystems that evolve over time, the concept hinges on one core idea: emergence. Emergence is when unexpected complexity arises from simple rules or interactions. Understanding it means thinking less like an architect and more like a gardener: nurturing conditions rather than dictating outcomes. This post explores how we can intentionally design for that kind of dynamic evolution, where something becomes more than the sum of its parts. Understanding Emergent Design Emergent behavior doesn’t mean chaos—it means complex systems forming through simple interactions. Think of how a flock of birds moves in synchrony, or how an...

Can you design something to take on a life of it's own? 11 November 2024 | Artificial Intelligence, Crowdsourcing, Feedback, Flexibility, Question a Day, Strategy, Vision Question-a-Day Can you design something to take on a life of it's own?  Designing something to "take on a life of its own" is both an exciting and challenging goal. This concept goes beyond creating a product, artwork, or idea that simply fulfills a function. It’s about creating something dynamic, self-sustaining, and capable of evolving independently, interacting with people or the environment in ways that allow it to grow beyond the control or original vision of its creator. To design something that takes on a life of its own, you need to create something that has a few key qualities:  openness, adaptability, self-sustaining mechanics,  and  an ability to engage people or systems in an interactive way.  Here are some approaches and examples across various fields where creators have successful...