Mapping complex organisations
Why is Rotterdam failing to get a grip on growing poverty, despite an excess of regulations, helpdesks, and support agencies?
How come cooperative housing is struggling to take off, despite the acute housing shortage and broad support from both residents and officials?
Why do we fail [to help] so many homeless people, despite countless policy documents and action plans designed to help them find a home?
In trying to tackle these issues, there is rarely a lack of knowledge, tools, or commitment from the parties involved. And yet, progress stalls. Excellent plans get bogged down in complexity: organizations speak to one another on different wavelengths, information gets fragmented and responsibilities blur.
We often try to capture this complexity in organizational charts, reports, or SWOT analyses. Each tool highlights a part of the system, but rarely the whole. For those involved, the underlying connections remain elusive.
How can we do things differently?
Since completing my architecture studies, I have been mapping complex social systems—not in an academic way, but through visualizing and storytelling. These maps highlight the defects of the system, without oversimplifying the complexity.
I collect stories, uncover hidden interests and financial flows, and translate incomprehensible regulations and jargon into comprehensible metaphors. Once all layers of the system are mapped out, I guide the involved organizations through it. Because only when everyone is informed in the same way, can we rethink the way we organize the system.
In the future, I look forward to collaborating with local governments that want to get a grip on urban issues, but are stuck in their own procedures. With organisations that want to bring social themes to the public’s attention, but aren’t sure how. Or with journalists who want to broach societal injustices, but feel like they are shouting into the void.
Curious about what a map can do for your organization? Send me a message—I’d love to think along!
Also working on..
I am an artist, rooted in architecture, with a knack for hands-on design. Not the hermit type of artist who prefers to work autonomously, but a socially engaged artist who gets a kick out of working together with others.
In my work I like to broach social matters – such as homelessness, housing and migration – with analogue techniques. I take inspiration from the documentaries of urbanist and sociologist William H. Whyte. Taking his camera out onto the streets of 1980 New York City, like an urban sort of David Attenborough he observed, captured and narrated the seemingly invisible logics and peculiarities of public life in public space. Or, the work of artist and cartographer Carlijn Kingma, who breaks down awfully abstract constructs like money, democracy and modernity, in awfully vivid and beautiful hand drawings. Like to get in touch? Reach out!
jorisvandriel1998@gmail.com
06-33106036