Jen Briselli - Embracing Complexity and Ambiguity in Design

Brave UX with Brendan Jarvis 🇺🇦

In this episode of Brave UX, Brendan Jarvis sits down with Jen Briselli, Co-founder of Topology, to discuss how embracing uncertainty and complexity is essential in design. Jen shares her journey from physics and teaching to strategy consulting, drawing parallels between her love of extreme metal music and her approach to learning and exploration. They dive into the importance of systems thinking, navigating ambiguity, and how designers must embrace the unintended consequences of their work. Jen emphasizes the value of curiosity, self-reflection, and continuous learning as tools for thriving in an ever-evolving world.

Highlights include:

• 00:00 - Introduction to Jen Briselli and her love for extreme metal music
• 02:31 - Jen's career path and the need to pave your path in design
• 08:11 - Embracing uncertainty and developing a tolerance for ambiguity
• 15:21 - Navigating ambiguity and getting comfortable with uncertainty
• 21:46 - Design as a white-collar or blue-collar field
• 26:56 - Complexity and systems thinking in design
• 31:41 - Embracing uncertainty and chaos in design
• 37:11 - Reconnecting with complexity and the importance of learning
• 42:21 - The importance of teams and organizations learning together
• 46:56 - Learning as the meta superpower for individuals

Who is Jen Briselli

Jen Briselli is a multifaceted strategist, researcher, designer, and educator who thrives at the intersection of diverse disciplines. With a passion for risky play and transdisciplinary collaboration, Jen partners with brave individuals to co-create innovative services, experiences, and environments that empower people to live on their own terms. Driven by an insatiable curiosity, she uncovers hidden patterns across disparate domains and uses these insights to enable others. Inspired by the philosophy of R. Buckminster Fuller, Jen believes in unlocking individual potential to create a collective realization for all. She is dedicated to connecting ideas and people in meaningful ways.

"It's become my professional mission to provoke, construct, and sometimes subvert to codesign services, tools, and experiences that enable people to live well on their own terms." Jen Briselli

Find Jen Here

• Jen Briselli on LinkedIn
• Topology Website

Subscribe to Brave UX

Liked what you heard and want to hear more? Subscribe and support the show by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen).

• Apple Podcast
• Spotify
• YouTube
• Podbean

Follow us on our other social channels for more great Brave UX content!

• LinkedIn
• Instagram

Brendan Jarvis hosts the Show, and you can find him here:

• Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn
• The Space InBetween Website