A good book, like any good tool, provides both utility and inspiration for those who use it.
In the initial design sprint for Learning, Freedom and the Web we challenged ourselves to achieve this balance.
We set out to capture the energy of a movement and share practical tools for people working at the intersection of learning and the open web.

We all know the web is changing how we learn. This book seeks to provide leverage at this inflection point, building upon and supporting the momentum of those working on solutions.

At first it may seem counter intuitive to use a traditional medium to explore these emerging technologies – but books have a staying power and persistence; they are useful for planting and sharing seeds of an idea.

While we were aware of the form this project would take, we wanted to explore the function it would provide. How could this book pattern itself after decentralized models built upon transparency and openness?

We want readers of this book to enjoy a user-friendly experience. We’re using wayfinding elements, multiple entry points and strong typography to deliver this experience.

We want to capture the DIY ethic of people who are hacking, making and building things. By providing useful how-to sections, with practical takeaways, we hope to share this ethic. As we continue to iterate on prototypes, this spirit informs our process and we hope it shows through.

We want to reflect the dynamic energy of networks, connections and emergence. We’re aiming to visualize the relationships between the parts, to better understand the emerging forces shaping the whole.

We also want to invite participation, sharing responsibility with the reader, and hopefully leaving room for imagination and dialogue within the work itself.

We want to involve the people who will get value out of this book in the process of creating it, and we want your feedback to inform our process.

Thanks for taking the time to review our process, your feedback will help this book provide both the utility and inspiration it set out to achieve.

Download a preview of the work-in-progress here.

All the best,

-Chris