Shaping Chaos

Emergent Design and the Art of Taming Chaos with Matthew Claudel

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In this podcast episode, Matthew Claudel, the founder of Field States, shares valuable insights on emergent design and managing complexity. We discuss the importance of experimentation, learning from failures, and the role of curiosity in driving innovation. Matthew offers a thought-provoking discussion on how cities learn and evolve, with useful lessons for anyone interested in design, urban planning, or creativity.


After recording this episode, I feel Matthew gave me the articulation I need in my practice to see design as tool to solve emergent problems, a Darwinian approach that I believe will grow fond on me and I hope you find it revolutionary in your work as well as I do.


Key Takeways

  • Emergence in design involves embracing uncertainty and allowing the process to unfold organically.
  • Chaos and interdependence are inherent in today's world, and organizations must navigate these complexities to create meaningful change.
  • Fear can paralyze action, but creating a safe space for experimentation and offering grace to oneself and others can help overcome it.
  • Designing for emergence requires involving stakeholders, exploring alternative perspectives, and designing the right questions rather than seeking predetermined answers. Structured experiments are essential in urban planning to explore new ideas and approaches.
  • Maintaining the value created during experiments is a challenge, as there is often no well-fit structure for sustaining it.
  • Procurement processes can hinder innovation, and there is a need to redefine procurement to support more exploratory outcomes.
  • Cities learn and evolve through a continuous feedback loop of exploration, observation, and change.
  • There are parallels between the fashion industry and cities in terms of loops and feedback in design and innovation.
  • Designing for long-term transformation requires balancing long-term vision with smaller feedback loops and experimentation.
  • The most significant barrier to creativity and innovation is how individuals perceive themselves and their creative abilities.
  • Curiosity is a key factor in success, driving exploration, asking the right questions, and embracing the unknown.


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    Shaping ChaosBy Thereforth