The Craftsperson and the Scientist

In their collaborative practice, Geeks for Social Change has identified two distinct working approaches: the craftsperson’s creative focus and the scientist’s rigorous methodology.

The Craftsperson’s Approach

Craftspeople leverage experience to make decisions based on personal judgment rather than external data. Small teams of one to two craftspeople can deliver a small-to-medium sized project (like a simple website or a set of print assets) relatively quickly and to a high quality. However, this approach risks embedding unstated assumptions about audiences and creates knowledge silos that make handoffs difficult for team members who weren’t involved from the start.

The Scientist’s Approach

Scientists prioritize evidence gathering through user testing and stakeholder feedback. They embrace iteration and evolving requirements throughout a project. While this produces more holistically considered outcomes, projects take longer and risk becoming bland through committee-based decision-making, potentially causing consultation fatigue.

Finding Balance

The organization recommends five strategies:

1. Clarify decision-making authority upfront
2. Define what’s fixed versus changeable through sign-off stages
3. Set time boundaries on project elements
4. Outline expectations and assumptions before work begins
5. Explain the reasoning behind user-centered feedback requirements

Rather than viewing these approaches as opposing camps, GFSC suggests emphasizing context-dependent flexibility while recognizing that both contribute essential value to research, design, and development.