i presented this talk at Re-Design Design Education Conference in Wuxi, China, May 24-26 2013. it is a very light tentative to twine together some thoughts I am having recently, by the challenge to go back to my original (and preferred) topic about design discipline, intellectual framework and destination of the practice. It has also been a preliminary trial to talk with the Chinese, in chinese. probably an ambitious try, but worth to me for having learned something new and relevant.

1. francesca valsecchi
Redesign Design Education Conference II • 设计教育再设计 系列国际会议（二）
complexity
is a way of thinking
that enriches design practice
(and also our own lifestyles)
复杂性是一种丰富设计实践的思维方式
（我们的生活方式）

2. by living in China I everyday struggle in expressing
myself and understanding in between the two meanings
有两个不同的意思
complicated
as difficult to understand / 不容易了解
complex
composed of several parts, articulated / 由不同部分组成
1. complexity
复杂 • fù​zá

3. sometimes to understand a meaning we use synonymous
有时 ，我们使用同义词 理解 一个意思
complicated
simple, easy, no details / 简单，轻松，没有任何细节
complex
singular, individual, linear, single element / 奇异的、 个别的、 线性的、 单个的元素
this is revealed in the difference between a complex system 复杂系统
or a complicated situation 复杂的情况 (有“问题”的意思)
复杂 • fù​zá

4. 复杂 • fù​zá
the etymology of english/latin word recall the chinese characters
英文/拉丁词源和汉字构成相似
复
杂
cum-plicere
repeatedly, plural
mixed, blended; mix, mingle
“to entwine, encircle, compass, unfold”, from com-
(“together”) + plectere (“to weave, braid”). As a noun
means a composition of parts conditioned each other

5. there are metaphors in complexity theory that explain
why this difference in meaning is crucial
有隐喻的复杂性理论解释了 为什么这一差异的意义是关键
the butterfly and the hurricane
蝴蝶和飓风
The name of the
“butterfly effect”, coined
by Edward Lorenz,
is derived from the
theoretical example of
a hurricane’s formation
being sensitive on
whether or not a distant
butterfly had flapped
its wings several weeks
before.

6. kaleidoscope
万花筒
same elements
infinite and
different
configurations
相同的元件
无限不同配置

7. these metaphors suggest us that we need to understand
which are the properties that define
what is complex, and how we can deal with it
这些比喻表明我们需要理解定义的属性有哪些什么是复杂的和我们如何可以处理它
focus on relationship and connection,
the meaning of cause/effect changes from being linear (in time and space)
to being articulated in a network of possibilities and variety of bonds
重点放在关系和连接，
因果变化的意思从线性（在时间和空间)向被阐明的可能性和各种联系的网络变化
the core idea is that things
are interconnected
其核心思想是，事情 是相互关联的

8. the core concept and image in complexity is the idea of system, defined as a
body of elements and the quality of relationship that twine them together
复杂性的核心理念和形象是一个关系的系统，
定义为一个元素的整体和使他们在一起的关系
* large variety of components or elements that possess specialized functions
种类繁多的具有专门功能的部件或元件
* the “whole” system is more than just the total sum of the singular components
“整个”系统是不仅仅是 各个组件 的总和
* systems change and transform
系统的改变和改造
* qualities and features of a system: flows, cycles, networks, catalysts, balance, stability,
growth, development, evolution, configuration, transformation
系统的素质和特点：流量，周期，网络，催化剂，平衡，稳定，成长，发展，演变，配置，改造

10. complexity emerged in the course of the last thirty years
from the cross-fertilization of several disciplines: biology, information
theory, cybernetics, systems theory, and later economics, physics, politics,
management...
在过去三十年中涌现的复杂性来自 几个学科的相互交流
生物学，信息论，控制论，系统论，以及后来的经济学，物理，政治，管理
It is not a new concept, what is new is the integration of the disciplines
这是不是一个新的概念，”新”的是将这些学科整合起来

11. is not a “science,” a “theory,” or a “discipline” but a new methodology
that makes possible the collection and organization of accumulated knowledge in order to
increase the efficiency of our actions.
不是”科学，”一种”理论”，或 ”学科”，而是一种新方法，使收集和组织积累知识成为可
能，以提高我们的行动的效率。
The patterns of birds in flight / 鸟类的飞行模式
The interactions of varied life forms in an ecosystem / 在生态系统中的各种生命形式的交互
The behavior of consumers in a retail environment 在零售环境中消费者的行为
The interactions of people and groups in a community / 人和社会群体的交互

12. complexity is related to
复杂性和以下有关
* science and philosophy, as intellectual foundations
科学和哲学，作为知识基础
* personality, as individual approach to the understanding
个性，个人的方式的理解
* our discipline (that is what we care today in this occasion)
设计（即是在此之际，我们今天关心）

13. 2. what does it matter
with sustainability
& social innovation?
它为什么与可持续发展与社会创新有关系？

14. equilibrium, balance
transformation by continuum /evolution
平衡 / 通过连续改造 / 进化

15. the unbalance of today’s world
当今世界的不平衡

16. designing for sustainability and social innovation
therefore more and more means:
为可持续性和社会创新设计的意思是:
* design for the environment /with /into
为环境的设计
* design for all (and the minorities) / inclusive design
设计适合所有人
* design for community diversity and coexistence
为群落多样性与共存的设计

17. 3. what does it matter
with design?
它为什么与设计有关系？

18. *design acts on reality
关于现实的设计
* from problems (past) to solution (future)
从问题(过去)到解决(未来)
*design deals with transformation and cope with
evolution
设计对付变化与进化
*design is creation, interferes with the input/out-
put and impacts in the system
设计对付变化与进化
we design here
what does it matter with design
它为什么与设计有关系？

19. 1 - the prospective capability 在未来的潜力
2 - the redefinition of design tools 更新设计具
3 - the strategic capability 策略性设计
complexity / design
复杂性 / 设计

20. 1 - the prospective capability 在未来的潜力
design = pro-gettare
from latin etymology is the action of throw forward
拉丁词源: 向前扔
outline of something new, plan, something thrown forth
from pro- “forward” + combining form of iacere (past participle iactus) “to throw”

21. “Service designers vizualize,
formulate and choreograph
solutions to problems that do not
necessarily exist today;
they observe and interpret
requirements and behavioral
patterns and transform them into
possible future services.”
(Birgit Mager, Service Design Network, UK)
“Design has the capability to
foresee, represent, and potentially
visualize a complex of elements and
relationships.”
see
understanding the context
show
visualizing the information
foresee
making critical predictions
(Professor Francesco Zurlo, Milan)
1 - the prospective capability 在未来的潜力
two important quote / 两个重要的引述

22. 2 - the redefinition of design tools 更新设计具

23. The Macroscope
(Joël de Rosnay)
the microscope enlarges the infinitely small, the telescope makes smaller the infinitely big
the macroscope helps to make sense of yet another dimension—the infinitely complex.
显微镜放大无限小, 望远镜使较小的无限大
有助于使另一个维度的意义 — — 无限复杂。
the macroscope is a symbolic instrument made ​​of a set of methods and borrowed from very different
technical disciplines, that allows new way of seeing, understanding and acting
是一项象征性的指示由一套方法组成，并且从非常不同的技术学科借鉴，这允许新的方式去
看、 理解和行事。
the macroscopes let us observe what is at once too great, slow, or complex for the human eye and mind
to notice and comprehend.
让我们观察那些曾经对于人类的眼睛和头脑过于伟大、 缓慢，或过于复杂的事物。

24. the quality of the observation
impacts on the quality of (design)action
观察的质量对行动的质量的影响

25. made to understand,
to take decision,
and finally to explore
为了了解, 决定和 探索
maps /
diagrams
图

26. map/tools in service design
服务设计系统图

27. visualization tools
for information and knowledge
信息知识可视化
narratives 视觉故事
decision making 决策
controversies 辩论
map/tools in communication design
视觉传达图

28. narratives
视觉故事

30. decision making
决策

32. controversies / climate change
辩论 / 气候变化

33. controversies / climate change
辩论 / 气候变化

34. complexity of data / pollution
资料的复杂性 / 气污染

35. 3 - the strategic capability of design 策略性设计

36. 3 - the strategic capability of design 策略性设计

37. 3 - the strategic capability of design 策略性设计

38. 3 - the strategic capability of design 策略性设计

39. 3 - the strategic capability of design 策略性设计
etymology of strategy in greek refers to
is “lead the army”
but also
“a framed view”
拉丁词源有两个意思: 带领兵队, 取景

40. 3 - the strategic capability of design 策略性设计
for Edgar Morin refers to
a cognitive model
and a way to act
in front of a complex and
unpredictable reality
that keeps evolving;
it is not possible to foresee
the actions
of all the elements involved.

41. 3 - the strategic capability of design 策略性设计
“but now the stakes are higher.
Urbanisation, global warming, crashing healthcare system, four
billion people living on less then a dollar a day: these are all
challenging the stakes of what we do as designers today.
We can continue to be defined by the design briefs that naturally
come to us, the next product, the next advertising campaign, the
next range of clothing; or we can figure out how design can be
more strategic, and plan a part in tackling some of these issues.”
(Tim Brown, IDEO)

42. 4. in conclusion • 总结

43. in conclusion • 总结
心疼 加油 纠结 忐忑 豁达
21 Emotions For Which There Are No English Words
二十一情绪，却没有英语单词
from Pei Ying Lin

44. in conclusion • 总结
21 Emotions For Which There Are No English Words
二十一情绪，却没有英语单词
from Pei Ying Lin
We just use few of the thousands
words available in English language
for describing our emotions, and still
most of us would experience feel-
ings for which there are, apparently,
no words.
In some cases, though, words do ex-
ist to describe those nameless emo-
tions, in other languages.

45. in conclusion • 总结
复杂性 & 跨文化的过程
the complexity is not in the representation,
but in the meaning represented
复杂性不是在表面而是其代表的意思
the process into complexity: understanding, positioning, action, impact
到复杂的过程: 理解，定位，行动，影响
as designers, educators, researchers, as well as individuals
作为设计人员、 教育工作者、 研究人员、以及个人

46. 天下大乱，形势大好
there is havoc on earth,
the situation is excellent
The hand-drawn diagrams of this presentation
are from a beautiful book about complexity, Le
Macroscope, by Joel De Rosnay, 1976.
There are also diagrams from the students
project at DensityDesign Lab, Milan
http://densitydesign.org
this presentation is licensed:
Creative Commons 3.0 by-nc-sa

47. 谢谢
grazie
francesca valsecchi
May 25th 2013, Wuxi, China • 2013年5月25号无锡
f.valsecchi@gmail.com
http://urijoe.org
微波 @魏佛兰
天下大乱，形势大好
there is havoc on earth,
the situation is excellent
(Chairman Mao)