radius of variables

Inspired by my love of idea mapping, a number of potential variables emerge.

When it comes to articulture, there are several elements I can imagine addressing. This is what I mean by these terms (clockwise starting from the top):

Creativity: Trying something new. Pushing the edges of innovation. Surprise us.

Components: How many elements are needed to make an effective system? Is it a diverse mix of elements engaging a range of senses? (See five questions)

Timeframe: How long will these interventions last? Is there a commitment to long-range impacts or regenerative elements?

Interaction: How does your system engage others? How much participation is possible, useful, realistic?

Customization: Is your system very person-specific, or a more general proposal that can (or should) be tweaked or modified, or something else? What parts of it could be adapted to your own home, neighborhood or workplace? How flexible is your design?

Enthusiasm: Some things are popular, catchy, easy to repeat and so fun that they can spread on their own to become part of people's lives. Will people care? How many really need to?

Lifecycle: All things come and go. Is this a timely, short lifespan sort of thing or possibly even multi-generational in scope? Perhaps some elements last longer than others?

Documentation: Each system can be set up small-scale, privately and no one needs to know. If you want your ideas to spread and impact others, it may help to document them clearly. If you want feedback and an honest evaluation of how things worked out in the world and how to possibly make your system more effective you can plan for that. Some projects might be heavy on the description, light on implementation. It helps if the actual system isn’t just hype.

Community: As you decide the scale of your system, whether it's home-sized or global or anything in between, it may help to consider who and what might be affected. Who should care? Who are your natural allies, potential organizational partners, or dream community? How might this change over time and what support might they need from you?

Context: In addition to people, location, issues, or themes being addressed and the timeliness of your system, you may seek to engage with additional ecological, cultural, historical, or personal narratives. Economic variables, time availability, interest, and other contextual factors can also play a role. These approaches to (re)creating culture may be difficult to implement. What is possible at this time? What is most strategically effective if you take a long-term approach?

All of these elements offer a spectrum of variables to consider when planning or understanding an articultural system.