Abstract
This book argues for considering a close look at the embodiment of metaphors in design systems. The author shares the story of his research study for his doctoral program at Fielding Graduate University. His starting point: How can we create wholeness in an increasingly complex world? He focuses on the systems that we make and use to work together to generate health, wealth, and peace. He asserts that by looking closely at the metaphors designers use in their design conversations, we will see that these metaphors become embodied in the systems they create. The author combines ideas of design and communication with the theory of organizational improvisation. By asking How do our joint improvisations with metaphors become embodied in the systems that we are creating?, researching this question in an action-research project, integrating the findings with literatures on metaphor, reflection-in-action, improvisation, learning and transformation, and presenting a useful model emerging from the research, he delivers valuable thoughts and stepping stones to practical use in many areas connected with communication, transformation, and education.
The book presents a special twist. The connection with improvisation works on two levels. First, the metaphor of improvisation itself is explored as a metaphor that, when embedded in the systems we create and use, offers fresh perspectives on constructively embracing the challenges we face in the complex and dynamic worlds we live and work in. Second, the book describes the way that the metaphor of improvisation was reflected upon by three business partners and designers (one of them being the author himself), in their own design process. The story of their improvising these systems into being, simultaneously reflecting on the metaphors in use, provides for an interesting read, an original structure, and a multilevel learning experience. This is reflected upon by Fred Steier, who, in his foreword, says: The intertwining of producer, product and process lies at the heart of design innovation. Reading a book that features design innovation, and whose process of unfolding resonates closely with its contents requires a special approach.…I mean it more in the sense of searching and learning together with the text, moving back and forth between being present with the ideas in the text and with the process of innovation that the text may afford, upon reflection, the reader.
The first chapters of the book provide a setup of the context and a review of literature on system design, metaphor, and organizational improvisation. The author points out that Donald Schön was the one that most prominently addressed the role of metaphor in design. With specific attention to that what hides behind the word “thinking”: The embodied, unconscious, and metaphorical nature of experience that gives rise to thinking. Schön is known for examining the deliberative and generative capacity of metaphors, while others (among them Lakoff and Johnson) focus on metaphor’s embodied and nonconscious aspects. From this enlightening overview of the rich world of metaphors in the context of transformation, the author makes the case for deliberate, conscious, and transparent metaphor in system design. Remarks around complexity, emergence, and improvisation add to the richness of this part of the book.
After taking us through the stages of the research process (method, data analysis, return to the literature, adding Turbayne), the author introduces his meta-metaphors, in-interaction, and reflexive reflection (MMIIRR) —model, that aims at integrating reflection-in-action and metaphor theory. The model, after a test with data, promises to increase a practical understanding of this integration, leading to an awareness that might be helpful for designers to consciously work with metaphors as a key ingredient to dramatically improve the quality of the systems they design.
Then, the author concludes with some remarks around further exploration generated from the findings of his book. The diversity, sophistication, and importance of some fields he mentions are striking. One is about improving capacity for social construction by deepening the relationship between coordinated management of meaning (as developed by Barnett Pearce) and metaphorical perspectives. Then, there is a suggestion that working with generative and embodied metaphors might contribute to improve work in psychotherapy, for instance in past reality integration. Finally, he suggests developing practices on Frank Barrett’s principles of jazz improvisation as a way to appreciate the messy and improvisational process of reflection-in-action. These suggestions lead to the conclusion that the author opened up a world for us that might have a potential too huge to encompass at this point.
The author concludes with the sentence: I believe that the process and the outcomes of these explorations will increase our capacity to generate the types of conversations, and the types of systems, that will help us make better worlds. From this perspective, Embodying Metaphors in Systems in my opinion is a highly recommended book for all those readers from diverse disciplines that want to engage in codesigning better social worlds, exploring the metaphors that are at work in their own bodies and minds, and creating not only new contexts but also new ways of experiencing them. Offering new ways of acting into the complexities of our personal and professional lifeworlds. Reframing perspectives on transformation and learning with that balanced blend of understanding and disturbance that make real jazz and real human communication into the fascinating mystery it is, in essence.
In sum, Embodying Metaphors for Systems is a challenging and recommended read for anyone who desires to expand horizons of thought on the intersection of improvisation, design, and communication. Its intriguing, innovative structure helps us to experience the workings of the topic by actively reflecting on what the reading does to us while reading it. Its connection to the various areas and angles that it touches gives it great value to open up discussions on education that offer fresh and innovative perspectives on the essence of transformation and learning itself.
Finally, I might suggest to read the book with a jazz background soundtrack. Adding another dimension to the multiperspectivity that is embedded in the book’s structure and presence. Adding another sensory appreciation to the great reproductions of paintings, spread through the book, reflecting on jazz principles, artfully created by Sterre, the author’s daughter. Of course the reader might choose his or her personal soundtrack. Giant Steps by John Coltrane worked great for me. Although The Shape of Jazz to Come by Ornette Coleman might be a step too giant for some readers and listeners: Given the notion that real genius takes time and invitation to be appreciated for all its brilliance, I’d like to offer the idea that Embodying Metaphors in Systems and the promise it holds might deliver to us a Giant Step towards The Shape of Communication to Come.