Constructionism

Theory as far as I am concerned, then, is best understood as an emergent property of practice. Theories are in part post hoc rationalisations—the plausible stories which we tell ourselves to account retrospectively for our actions.

If only I could explain myself with such impeccable clarity! This paper entitled Theory for Practice by David Sless shows that when somebody can explain a concept or set of concepts without relying on jargon or buzzwords, it is extremely powerful. This is because it demonstrates a full understanding; to the point where there are no holes in comprehension of the explanation of the presented concepts due to the use of the syntax of an exclusive club.

Aside from the writing style of this article, the concepts within are also so very pertinent to what I've been thinking/writing about with process and design theory. Not only does it suggest that rigid process isn't as valuable for solving problems as it is for teaching people how to solve problems, but it also articulates my feelings about moving from a linear way of working, to an 'inspect and adapt' or Agile mindset... and that's just a little bit of it. if this is 'Constructionism', I must find out more about it.

Abstract from the paper: This paper discusses a constructionist approach to information design and contrasts it with the more widely used constructivist approach. The paper suggests that there are five principles of information design: politics, position, parsimony, politeness, and performance. Of these, politeness is the most important.