Here is a two-part series by Joe Norman.

As with many concepts, the term “top-down” is highly conflated. It’s not the first time I’ve felt confused when someone uses the term. It’s not rare to see people conflating top-down and waterfall as the same thing.

But as Joe points out here, there are two types of top-down approaches to design and growth: the blueprint, waterfall top-down, and the coarse-to-fine top-down.

They have nothing to do with each other. The former tries to impose a blueprint onto the world. The latter, however, unfolds and adapts better to the environment’s complexity.

This is not a new discovery but a resource I’ve found myself turning back to over and over. I love how Joe articulates the difference. So I thought you might find it helpful too.

Whether you’ve never heard about the concept, you feel confused about its meaning, or simply find it hard to explain it to others, this is a fantastic source to improve your understanding.

Do you feel intrigued? If so, keep reading here.

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Have a creative time.