who’s the architect?
Hi, and welcome!
I started this blog as a way to explore what is happening at the intersection of technology, communication, and culture – about how we’re being impacted as a society and where we go from here. [I started laying out some ideas with A Metathinking Manifesto and expanded on those underlying trends here.]
Then I started poking around in Twitter and wondering if it’s a complex adaptive system and if it might actually grow to become a global human consciousness, of sorts. Lately I’ve been looking at how design thinking can be used to better understand human behavior and facilitate innovation.
I got the opportunity to share some thoughts on Nokia’s IdeasProject site recently:
But generally, I think we’re at a turning point in history, where many of the institutional structures that serve as the foundations for how we operate as a society are failing, and in turn creating a tremendous opportunity for us to make a decision to grab a hold of the reins and be active participants in creating our collective future. (check out this post and the awesome comments that followed to get a better sense of what I mean). I want to explore this potential, write about it, and share it and build upon it with others. It’s the meaning behind the title of Emergent by Design – I think it is what we can choose to be.
A bit about me
I’m trying something new with a visual resume. This should give you a general overview of what I’ve been up to over the past decade (click to enlarge):
At the moment, I’m pursuing a Masters in Media Studies at the New School in NYC, with a focus on how social technologies are impacting society and culture. I’ve been doing a lot of writing, and have contributed guest posts on Georgetown University’s peer-reviewed journal gnovis, SpaceCollective, socialmediatoday, unstrucuture, grow, Blogging Innovation, Media Rights, and MemeBox. Not sure what comes next, but I hope you’ll join me for the ride!
thanks for stopping by,
- v
update: here’s another little bio:
Venessa Miemis is a Holistic Futurist and digital ethnographer, researching the impacts of social technologies on society and culture and designing systems to facilitate innovation and the evolution of consciousness. She is currently pursuing a Masters in Media Studies at the New School in NYC.
“Since completing my undergraduate work in Psychology, I have been interested in exploring human behavior and motivation and creating optimal environments in which people can thrive. I spent several years as a District Manager for a chain of retail stores, overseeing all operations, improving productivity and efficiency, and developing leadership in my management teams. After that, I went in a completely different direction, accepting an opportunity to be part of the core team of a future-focused social media startup. In that role, I researched emerging technology trends, interviewed top futurists and thought leaders, and wrote articles analyzing the implications of social technologies. That experience led me to my current graduate pursuits, which are focused on building collaborative online social networks and unlocking their power to affect positive change in the world.”
let’s chat on twitter @venessamiemis or you can email me at emergentbydesign@gmail.com
linkedin: Venessa Miemis
Trackbacks
- What Can Educators Learn? | All Hands on Deck
- crm intelligence & strategy @crm intelligence & strategy
- Quick Takes – March 2010 « http://frrl.wordpress.com
- Social Capital is not the same as Whuffie « http://frrl.wordpress.com
- Un modello concettuale per l’identificazione dei diversi ruoli degli internauti « Il Giornalaio
Hi Venessa,
Would love to talk to you about your interests, direction, plans, present work. You can email me at fwspencer4@gmail.com.
Frank Spencer / Professional Futurist
KedgeForward
Vanessa
I am based in NYC and want to say I love your blog. I am working for a client (FORTUNE 500 company) and would like to discuss mutual opportunities.
EMail me at jeanne@newlearningplaybook.com
Best
Jeanne C Meister
Vanessa, thrilled I “stumbled” upon your blog this morning. I’ve been incorporating complex adaptive system analogies into my social media presentations for a while now. Good stuff here.
Hi Venessa, I very much appreciate your blog and your way to write and examine the thing. Greetings from Europe!
Hi Venessa,
I am in the process of getting my BA in communication right now and I just want to thank you for being a trail blazer in the industry. I look forward to seeing where your career takes you next. I am getting great insights from your blog.
Thank you for posting useful interesting content!
Best,
Brooke
Hi Venessa
I caught up with you on your great piece on visualising human capital on Gnovis: http://gnovisjournal.org/blog/future-collaboration-begins-visualizing-human-capital#comment-359 A colleage just came across it elsewhere, which led me here. Great site. Yes the follow on Twitter text is too teeny, but what can you do! I haven’t looked around, but will. Just wanted to say hi again and good luck. We’re moving quickly too now. HubCap Digital – http://www.hubcapdigital.com – our digital library (and soon to be community) hub for future human capital ideas is in Alpha, so please feel free to drop in and share your ideas if you can. Will look around now!
Best Stuart
Hi Vanessa
I never miss your blog posts. I find them very well written, informative, and though provoking. Mostly I love your approach to look at the world, business, media and other topics from a holistic perspective, then critically think about common denominators and uncover larger trends. I always find it mind-expanding and share it with many. Keep it up. Best,
eric
Thank you Eric, you just made my morning! I’ve been having so much fun writing and exchanging ideas with people – and if it helps someone to see things from a new perspective, it’s totally worth it for me.
Hi Venessa…
When you ask if Twitter (and other social platforms) might grow to become a global human consciousness, I would say it already has. I call it a giant, collective Super-Ego, one that must be cared for responsibly and diligently.
I expanded on this a bit more in the context of participatory culture in one of my recent posts:
http://goonth.posterous.com/transmedia-narrative-ecosystems-and-experienc
Let’s try and do a Skype call this week… and keep the great posts coming
Gunther
Hi Venessa,
Beautiful visual resume, it looks a lot like a digital scrapbook. It gives a warmth energy to your digital presence. It is funny how the internet makes it possible to meet people with same interests without the time/space barrier. I see you got married in june 08, me too
Maybe we can chat a day and exchange ideas: I’m thinking about doing a research on the emerging of global consciousness (human development, democracy) thanks to the rise of social networks/collaboration (Castells, Wealth of networks etc) thanks to advancements in new technologies (a la Kevin Kelly, open-source). But the idea is still really really really raw….
How is the rooster project (on real estate) going?
Take Care,
Nadia
I agree Nadia: beautiful and moving digital resume! The deep thinking about the connection between social media and human behaviour and psychology reminds me of a book I have in storage somewhere by an Australian science journalist and thinker living in the US: Margaret Wertheim “The Pearly gates of cyberspace: ……??”( I forget subtitle). Good luck both of you , in your pursuits and look fwd to seeing your names in lights someday;)) @therock1424
I find your blog fascinating. I really like your values based society chart. I just did a webinar called Thought to Insight using mind mapping software developed by PersonalBrain. I would welcome your input and comments if you have time to watch it. (URL indicated in website window).
First time I see your blog and I like what I see, but. I also like most comments I have read here and everywhere, see a “beehive” society coming, the net creating a network of people doing the right thing for the planet, but, again the BUT, I fail to find real down to earth first steps. As long as it stays hypothetical and just a nice futuristic theory, no one in control of a real market will invest in it. Capitalism is needed to get to the final stages of creating a better world, we have to create real feasible business models in which many people from around the world benefit from the spontaneous actions of most of them. Still mulling things over, should write something soon.
Ps. You are not listing the http://www.longnow.org site anywhere, haven’t you seen it! Many hours worth listening to.
Hi Venessa !
This is a terrific blog that you are developing ! It demands a truly holistic understanding as to fully appreciate all the great posts that are being born . Your approach is so innovative and capitalizing. Things are wonderfully intertwined and are a joy to analyze. Keep it going the way you have stared it !
Hello Venessa, absolutely loved your visual resume idea – how innovative!
I very much look forward to reading your blog having discovered you just today. I am a learning specialist based here in the UK and know / follow some of the people in your blogroll already – I will take great delight in adding you to my list.
If you want to know more about WHO I am and WHAT I do and WHY I can so relate to what you are writing see here http://thePOLgroup.com
thanks for stopping by, jozefa.
Hello Venessa
I’m interesting in collaboration and coworking between designers and scientists, I take first steps to build team. Can I translate some ur posts into Russian for myself-education with your permission? Sure, without commercial benefit =)
yes, absolutely. i hope they are useful for you! thanks!