Basecamp → The Principles → Orientation & Wayfinding → Codex
To start, I’ll define the principles and concepts discussed in this section within the Codex. However, to give you the best experience, I will introduce two dimensions that will add a higher-resolution perspective to this lesson (and the other core principles).
Firstly, I’ll write the Codex from Harper’s first-person point of view, providing us with a perspective rooted in that of the people we seek to serve.
I’ll intentionally generalize Harper’s POV to make their perspective more broadly relevant. As mentioned earlier, I deliberately drift into a narrative voice that takes on a slightly flamboyant or flowery tone, which helps, I think, to deference Harper from my own natural voice.
Then, I’ll present the Codex from our perspective as the architects and engineers of our digital worlds — the Digital World Builders.
This part of the Codex lists two principles (Orientation and Wayfinding) and two supporting concepts (Salience Landscaping and Significance Landscape).
Principle: Orientation (Harper’s First-Person POV)
As I arrive on this website, I’m hoping to find help for the problem I’m facing. Orientation, for me, is about getting a sense of what this site is all about and whether it can provide the solutions I’m looking for.
I’ll be looking for clues that give me an idea of the site’s purpose, the kind of information or resources it offers, and how it might be able to assist me. As I explore and interact with the site, I’ll gradually build a clearer picture of what I can expect and how to make the most of my visit.
Principle: Wayfinding (Harper’s First-Person POV)
Wayfinding is all about the signposts, cues, and pathways that help me navigate through this website and find the information I need. I’ll be on the lookout for things like menus, links, buttons, and other elements that guide me toward the content or resources that are most relevant to my problem.
Wayfinding is like a friendly guide, making it easier for me to explore the site, understand my options, and make decisions about where to go next. It helps me orient myself and find my way to the solutions I seek. Whether following links, watching videos, or reading through content, wayfinding makes the journey feel straightforward, ensuring I don’t get lost but instead draw closer to solving my problem.
NOTE: I’ve used the language of orientation and wayfinding within Harper’s first-person perspective. However, our audience will unlikely use these specific concepts within their internal dialogue. The feeling of orientation and wayfinding, however, is common — a felt sense inbuilt into all of us.
However, for the sake of learning, I wanted to be explicit, so I deliberately snuck the language of these principles into Harper’s perspective for your benefit.
It’s also safe to presume that most new visitors to a digital-world-inspired website will not have a frame of reference for the site’s ethos and “Heartbeat,” which may later become salient to them.
Orientation (our Third-Person World Builders POV)
Introduces Harper to the digital environment’s ethos and structure, providing the context for meaningful exploration and engagement. This stage is crucial for setting expectations and helping Harper navigate the initial steps of their journey within the digital world. It illustrates the dynamic nature of orientation as it adjusts based on user interaction and feedback loops.
Wayfinding (our Third-Person World Builders POV)
Emphasizes design elements that guide Harper effectively, enabling content exploration and choice-making that resonate personally, facilitating their journey, and helping them discover relevant information and experiences.
Each component — Manifesto, Values, About, The Survival Guide, Codex, Essays, Email, etc. — serves as a navigational tool, offering guidance and insights that implicitly align with the digital world’s ethos and Harper’s Ordinating Principles. Wayfinding is the tool that enables orientation, steering our audience toward the key elements that will help them understand and engage with our digital world.
Concept: Salience Landscaping
Salience landscaping is a concept Vervaeke discusses that relates to how individuals or systems prioritize and pay attention to certain aspects of their environment over others. It’s about how our cognitive and perceptual systems “landscape” or organize the information that is most “salient” or stands out to us.
This process is dynamic and context-dependent, meaning what is salient can change based on our goals, states of mind, other content (more about this later), or even cultural backgrounds.
Continue to Part 2: Details (The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild) »