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Knowledge transfer through spinning

Spin Theory is an exploration of ‘knowledge transfer’ as it applies to design through the creation and mapping of 66 spinning tops.

As a human race, we know a lot. How do we transfer this knowledge? What does knowledge transfer mean for design? Spin theory explores these questions via the creation and evolution of 66 spinning tops.

Process:
(1) Build a spinning top
(2) Spin it, have others spin it
(3) Record all reactions, comments, ideas, and outbursts before, during, and after the spin
(4) Build the next top(s) based specifically on the reactions from the previous top
(5) Repeat, expand, map

Mapping connections

Spin theory is about mapping connections. How is information translated from one spinning top to the next? I kept a careful, organic, detail-filled map during the process.

After all the tops were created, I mapped their evolution based on three rules of connectivity: iteration, inspiration, and association.

Physical organization

Each spinning top and its comments are made into a magnetic tile and stuck to a giant magnet wall. This wall encourages multiple humans to organize and group the tops based on any number of connections. It allows for easy recognition of patterns, groups, and mappable links.

For an in-depth look at the areas I explored in this project read Between C and K (Edelman, 2008) where this project and my process are discussed in detail.