Complexity Maps. Representing urban territories and communities.

Slide 1: Design for the representation of places and communities. Torino World Design Capital Introduction to the workshop “Complexity Maps” @ “Designing Connected Places” Summer School 2008, 13-29 July, Torino (Italy) Prof. Paolo Ciuccarelli PhD Donato Ricci Politecnico di Milano INDACO Department, D.com Research Unit www.densitydesign.org Project Leader: Christian Nold Commitment: Urban Centre Metropolitano 01.

Slide 2: Context. The multidimensional nature of contemporary knowledge. The “discovery” of COMPLEXITY Complexity / complexus 02.

Slide 3: Context. as a way to exploite the information age. To make the complex the invisible the intangible 03.

Slide 4: Power. They Rule - theyrule.net Relationships. Mark Lombardi - World finance corporation and associates. 05.

Slide 5: Actions. Thomas Laureyssens - pedestrianlevitation.net Informations. Marcos Weskamp - marumushi.com/apps/newsmap/newsmap.cfm 06.

Slide 6: Feelings. Judith Donath - smg.media.mit.edu/projects/loom2/ Time(s). Jim Bumgardner - Time Graphs 07.

Slide 7: Conversations. Martin Dittus - IRC ARCS 08.

Slide 8: Context. Power Co nv p e hi rs ns at io io ns t la Re Territories Interactions Time(s) Actions Networks In fo gs rm lin at e io Fe ns 04.

Slide 9: Design for Complexity. Designer's key competences. * To see - understand frameworks; * To show - visualize information; * To fore-see - anticipate critically. The design ability of describing worlds emerges as an answer to the need 09. of orientation.

Slide 10: Complexity and diagrams. Phil oso phy Natural Sciences Findings of Debate on Logics & Math Complexity Science Diagrams hic Phil be rnet oso phy Cy Ar ch es nc ite cie ct ur t Des eS men e tiv Complex Design ign ni Environment Interventions age g Co Man Complexity Maps WS * To develop the ability to think in a complex rather than complicated way. * To value more connections than elements. * To consider the system unpredictability 010. as a source of creativity and innovation.

Slide 11: Diagrams. Generative tools. διαγραμμα DIÀ through + GRÀMMA sign. All those artefacts that have a revealing capacity finalized to the act of design. Operating devices to reveal the driving forces that can facilitate (or hinder) a design 011. intervention.

Slide 12: Diagrams. Tools to reduce the gap. Knowledge-gap The incomplete or inaccurate representation of a Complex system. Problem-solving-gap The difficulties to cope with project 012. tasks.

Slide 13: Analysing & Representing. Visual descriptions. Diagrams display not only quantitative data but also viewpoints and values of the system observer. * To trace a structure. * To translate the forces among 013. agents.

Slide 14: Diagrams for places and communities. The urban territory as a Complex System. A multitude of flows stratifies and interconnects. To connect cities and buildings whit the world of communication, 014. social networks and human activities.

Slide 15: A new challenge for communication design. The of traditional modes of mapping and representing. The demand for a 016. of visual languages.

Slide 16: Diagrams for places and communities. “Collective enabling enterprise”: * To describe the world we live in; * To reveal and realize hidden potential; 015. * To build collective visions.

Slide 17: Examples. Subjective Atlas.

Slide 18: Examples. Making Maps with Sound. 019.

Slide 19: Examples. Cascade on Wheels: Traffic Mixer 020.

Slide 20: Examples. MigMap – Governing Migration 021.

Slide 21: Examples. Brooklyn pigeon project 022.

Slide 22: Examples. Sydney mapping exercises. 023.

Slide 23: Examples. Sensory Deprivation Map Gre enw ay Newham Hospital Newham Sixth ad Form College Ro g n rki Ba Prin ce r egen t La ne 250 meters 024.

Slide 24: Question. How could maps and diagrams be created, studied and interpreted to and to let 025. opportunities emerge?

Slide 25: Opportunities. A potential to improve decision making process: * Involving all the stakeholders; * Improving the comprehension of the problems to be faced; * Overcoming barriers created by 026. specialized knowledge and language.