I readily admit that I’m a major etymology geek, and nothing is more fascinating than the origins of jargon. I came across a word today that struck a chord given my work in — and passion for — design strategy. That word? Simplexity.

At its root, the word Simplexity is a combination of “simple” and “complex”. As a theoretical framework, Simplexity posits a complimentary relationship between simplicity and complexity. As jargon, Simplexity stands to be the next new hot button.

Design Strategy embodies the nature of Simplexity. For all intents and purposes, they are two peas in a pod. Design Strategy lives at the intersection of complexity and simplicity, where difficult, intriguing and game-changing challenges can taunt even the most successful business leaders. When business leaders find themselves faced with challenges rife with Simplexity that take them into uncharted territory, Design Strategy is the most effective approach to developing solutions to those challenges.

If you’re a business leader reading this, you’re thinking, “Great. But what exactly is Design Strategy and how do I use it?”

In the next post – Part 2 – I’ll outline how to recognize a Simplexity challenge, the basics of Design Strategy, and a few easy steps to integrate Design Strategy into everyday business operations. Stay tuned!