Understanding Complicated, Complex, and Chaos to Improve Design

Thomas Vander Wal :: Design for ContextDC UX Camp :: 6 January 2013

Simplicity First

Simplicity First ?

Our World and Interactions are

not Simple

Who is Thomas?

Simple or Simplicity?

Simple: Plain, basic, or uncomplicated in form,

nature, or design

Simplicity: The quality or condition of being easy to

understand or do

Simple is state related------

Simplicity is a result of what is/has been applied

To put simplicity first we must understand the other dimensions

Complicated or Complex

Complicated orComplex

Complicated or Complex?http://www.flickr.com/photos/73416633@N00/89107383/

InfoCloud Solutions, Inc. - 2012

Scaling and FunctionalityPe

ople

Par

ticip

atin

g

# of Objects in System

A

A - Personal Use

B

B - SerendipityC C - Mature Social

Tool

D

D - Complex SocialSystem

Dave Snowden & Cynefin Framework

Dave Snowden’s Cynefin Framework

http://cognitive-edge.com/blog/entry/5802/cynefin-revised-leadership-table/

Simple, Complicated, and Complex

Simple :: Blocks

Complicated :: Grids

Complex :: Fractals

Start by mapping core dimensions

Map the interactions between dimensions

Work to boil down to its basic dimensions

If you can get it to a matrix you are working

with complicated

Complicated can use good practices and can

be straight forward

More than matrix dimensions you are

dealing with complex

Complexity requires monitoring and small actions

and adaptable solutions

Chaos is from not understanding the

problem well enough

Work to get out of chaos and embrace the

complexity

Fractals are not built from chaos, but from

complexity

Chaos is the unknown, not the unknowable

Things happen because of an action or activity, seeing the outcome lets

us know there is something there

Prod to make it easier to see and discover

then unknown

Complex Actions

Find the intent, actions, and force

Run to the light of complexity - Mike Kuinavsky

InfoCloud Solutions, Inc. - 2012