Donovan Dynamics: Designing with Dimensional Clarity
In an era defined by complexity, designers, strategists, and creators are constantly navigating systems that are too big, too fast, and too interconnected to fully grasp with traditional thinking. We often default to tools and templates, trying to manage complexity by reducing it. But what if, instead of flattening systems, we could work with their depth—intentionally?
That’s the goal of Donovan Dynamics: a twelve-dimensional framework for understanding and shaping experiences. It gives you the vocabulary and mental architecture to design with clarity—whether you’re building a product, telling a story, leading a team, or navigating a moment of change.
A Framework Built from Practice
Donovan Dynamics wasn’t invented in a vacuum. It evolved from my work across a wide spectrum of creative and technical environments—Apple, TikTok, Meta, Oculus, IKEA, New York Magazine, and more. Over time, I began noticing the same patterns showing up again and again.
When a product felt unclear, it wasn’t just a UI issue—it was an Information breakdown.
When a campaign felt lifeless, it was a failure of Energy.
When a team couldn’t scale, it was a mismatch in Coordinates.
When a brand couldn’t hold its shape, it was a collapsed Membrane.
These forces were real. They were structural. And they showed up everywhere—from neuroscience visualizations to immersive retail design, from content systems to storytelling platforms. What began as a vocabulary for myself evolved into a framework I now use to evaluate and create across disciplines.
The Four Forces
1. Fundamentals
What a system is made of
Every system, no matter how small or massive, starts with four elemental forces:
• Information – the structure and meaning a system carries
• Energy – the momentum that moves people through it
• Space – the way it is physically or conceptually arranged
• Time – the rhythm, duration, and sequence of interaction
If a product or idea isn’t landing, it’s often because one of these fundamentals is missing or misaligned. Fundamentals are the backbone—get these right, and the rest becomes easier.
2. Orientations
How a system behaves
Orientation is about posture—how something presents itself and how it moves through space and perception:
• Pitch – the emotional frequency or tone
• Spin – how meaning is framed or positioned
• Yaw – the ability to pivot, adapt, and shift direction
These dimensions shape how people feel about a system, even before they consciously interact with it. Orientation is the bridge between form and emotion.
3. Coordinates
Where a system lives
A system doesn’t just behave—it exists somewhere. It has position, structure, and scope:
• Longitude – horizontal reach and network connectivity
• Latitude – vertical layers, roles, and depth of structure
• Elevation – the strategic view, or system-wide perspective
Coordinates help us see how a system is structured in relation to others—where it fits, where it stretches, and how scalable it truly is.
4. Membranes
How a system connects and protects
Membranes define the boundary between self and environment. They’re not walls—they’re filters:
• In – the system’s capacity for introspection, focus, and attention
• Out – its ability to express, project, and resonate externally
When a system loses its membrane, it either collapses inward or leaks outward. Strong membranes help systems stay resilient and clear, while still being responsive.
Why It Works
What makes Donovan Dynamics useful isn’t just that it’s multidimensional—it’s that it’s flexible and grounded. Each dimension is grounded in real-world experience and paired with:
• Visual metaphors
• Case studies
• Exercises and diagnostic tools
• A clear relationship to product, storytelling, branding, and organizational strategy
You can use the framework in many ways:
• Diagnose friction or confusion in a system
• Design a product from a more holistic point of view
• Articulate what makes a brand feel emotionally coherent
• Align a team around where you are, and where you want to go
You don’t have to use all twelve dimensions at once. Start with the ones that speak to the problem in front of you. Often, just one or two will unlock a stuck system.
Designing with Dimension
Donovan Dynamics offers a different way of thinking. It’s not a playbook or a checklist—it’s a lens. It invites you to work with systems the way they actually are: layered, moving, alive.
Whether you’re:
• A product designer struggling with structure and flow
• A storyteller seeking emotional precision
• A strategist trying to map an evolving ecosystem
• Or just someone trying to navigate complexity with grace—
This framework gives you a vocabulary for what’s really going on.
Because when you see the dimensions, you can work with them.
And when you work with them, you can design anything—beautifully, intentionally, and with clarity.