This text discusses the concept of digital gardening and how it differs from traditional blogging. Digital gardens are websites that prioritize contextual associations and exploratory experiences over polished articles and chronological order. They are less rigid and more imperfect, allowing for continuous growth and learning in public. The text traces the history of digital gardens, from early hypertext experiments to the current resurgence of interest. It also explores the principles and design patterns that define digital gardening, such as topography over timelines, imperfection and learning in public, and playful experimentation. Overall, digital gardening offers a new approach to personal knowledge management on the web.
| Signal | Change | 10y horizon | Driving force |
|---|---|---|---|
| New approach to publishing personal knowledge on the web | From polished articles in reverse chronological order to free form, work-in-progress wikis | More exploratory, less rigid, and less perfect personal websites | Desire for exploratory experiences and resistance to top-down structures |
| Emergence of the concept of “digital gardening” | From a term used in the early days of hypertext to a new way of thinking about personal knowledge online | Increased adoption and understanding of digital gardening | Expansion of vocabulary to capture evolving online behaviors and desire for personalized online spaces |
| Shift from streams to gardens | From time-based, fleeting streams to contextual knowledge spaces | Less reliance on algorithmically-filtered ephemeral content and more exploration of interconnected knowledge | Desire for accumulation of knowledge, connection of disparate information, and maturation over time |
| Imperfection and learning in public | From polished, final versions of writing to imperfect and evolving ideas | Acceptance and transparency around the process of knowledge creation | Desire for transparency, feedback, and collaboration in knowledge creation |
| Playful, personal, and experimental digital spaces | From standardized personal websites to unique, customizable digital gardens | More personalized and experimental online spaces | Desire for personalized, non-homogeneous online experiences |
| Intercropping and content diversity | From linear writing to diverse multimedia content in digital gardens | Increased diversity of content in digital gardens | Desire for exploration of complex ideas through various mediums |
| Independent ownership of digital gardens | From reliance on social media platforms to owning and controlling personal online spaces | Increased ownership and control of personal online spaces | Desire for long-term planning, adaptability, and independence in online presence |