“Fractals, with their infinitely self-replicating patterns, remind us that complexity can arise from simplicity.” – Heinz-Otto Peitgen, The Beauty of Fractals
When I first stumbled upon the concept of African fractals, it was back in 2011 from Ron Eglash’s TED Talk. It set my brain on fire, and I got exposed to the world of ethnomathematics (which is a totally different blog post in of itself!) I was captivated by the beauty and complexity of these patterns—how they encapsulate both mathematical elegance and cultural wisdom. My earlier post reminded me of the conversation I had on Revision Path about the Design of Black Panther (Click Here).
I realized there is so much more to explore about this fascinating intersection of art, mathematics, and cultural heritage. So let’s take a deeper dive into African fractals and uncover how they can inspire modern design practices.
What Are African Fractals?
Fractals are patterns that repeat at different scales, creating self-similarity. In the context of African art and design, these patterns are not just decorative but deeply functional and symbolic. Ron Eglash’s groundbreaking book, African Fractals: Modern Computing and Indigenous Design, reveals their presence in everything from village layouts to textiles, showcasing a sophisticated understanding of recursive geometry that predates its formalization in Western mathematics (Eglash’s website).
Some examples include:
- Village Layouts: Many African villages are designed with fractal patterns, where the layout of smaller units mirrors the structure of the whole. For instance, a central circular space might be surrounded by smaller, concentric circles, reflecting a recursive harmony.
- Textiles and Weaving: Patterns in traditional African fabrics often show fractal scaling, with motifs repeating at smaller and larger sizes to create intricate designs.
- Architecture and Technology: Indigenous architecture and farming techniques often incorporate fractal logic, optimizing space and resource use while maintaining aesthetic and functional balance.
What sets African fractals apart is their embedded cultural significance. These patterns often reflect communal values, spiritual beliefs, and a deep connection to nature. For example:
- Symbolism: The recursive nature of fractals mirrors the idea of interconnectedness and the cyclical nature of life, which is a common theme in many African spiritual traditions.
- Community Design: The fractal layouts of villages emphasize collective living and a balance between individual spaces and communal areas.
- Innovation Through Tradition: Far from being static, these patterns evolve and adapt, demonstrating how tradition can serve as a foundation for innovation.
Systemic Thinking
When I read Donella Meadows’ Thinking in Systems in college, it blew my mind. Meadows talks about Systems as Networks of Interdependence: Meadows emphasized that systems are not isolated entities but networks of interdependent components. In any system, whether it’s ecological, social, or technological, the relationships between parts are just as important as the parts themselves. This perspective can be applied to everything from global ecosystems to organizational workflows, emphasizing the need for collaboration and coherence.
Meadows emphasized that components of a system have distinct behaviors when they are isolated, but their true nature and potential are realized when they are interconnected within a system. In her work, she pointed out that the relationships between components, rather than the components themselves, define the behavior and purpose of the entire system. It is from here where many—including myself—were exposed to the idea of Emergence, and Emergent Systems.
In product design or digital interfaces, isolated components may be functional but lack purpose. When designers connect these components to their context (by putting using user utilizing user research) they create cohesive experiences that serve user needs effectively.
Ah, but I digress.
Fractals, by their very nature, are a visual and mathematical representation of interdependence. They demonstrate how smaller components relate to larger structures and how these relationships create complex, cohesive systems. This inherent interconnection is what makes fractals such a powerful symbol and tool for understanding interdependence in natural, cultural, and designed systems.
A fractal’s form emerges through recursion, where a single rule is applied repeatedly. Each iteration builds upon the last, creating a complex whole. Fractals often occur in nature because they maximize efficiency through interdependence. For example, the branching patterns of trees, blood vessels, and river systems are fractal because they allow resources to flow efficiently through the system.
We see this play out in something like Atomic Design, which applies a similar efficiency principle. By creating reusable components (atoms), designers reduce redundancy and ensure consistency. This interdependence means changes to an atom (e.g., a button style) ripple across the entire system, updating every instance of that component while maintaining overall harmony.
User-Centered Patterns
Recursive fractal scaling mirrors the varied needs of users in digital systems. Just as fractals adapt in scale, effective product design addresses both micro and macro user journeys. In Afrofuturism, this concept is evident in Wakandan textiles and tools, which balance individual utility with collective purpose. Solarpunk similarly emphasizes human-centered design that aligns with environmental sustainability.
In digital design, fractal-inspired interfaces could adapt to user behavior, offering tailored experiences while preserving a unified structure. For example, navigation systems might dynamically adjust to prioritize frequently accessed content, much like a fractal grows to meet environmental needs. This approach ensures accessibility and usability, making systems more inclusive and responsive.
Resilient Design
African fractals demonstrate adaptability within structure, a lesson that is invaluable for creating resilient digital systems. Resilience in design allows products to evolve with user needs while maintaining core functionality. This adaptability is a hallmark of Solarpunk’s ethos, where technology is designed to be regenerative and responsive to ecological and social change.
In practice, resilient digital design might involve creating modular architectures that can scale or shift focus without compromising performance. These principles can be seen throughout Brad Frost’s Atomic Design.
Cultural Significance in UX
If you haven’t guessed by now, I’m a huge fan of Afrofuturism in Science Fiction. Not only does it put people of the Black Diasporas in the future—often lacking in “classic” sci-fi works—it also allows us to imagine a world in which various cultures impact our understanding of technology.
So it shouldn’t surprise you that one of my favorite movies of the last decade was Marvel’s Black Panther. The movie showed Wakandan technology where tools were versatile yet deeply rooted in cultural identity. By incorporating these ideas, modern designers can build systems that are both robust and flexible, prepared to adapt to future challenges.
Just as fractals carry deep cultural meaning, digital designs can reflect and respect diverse user backgrounds. Culture informs the tools we create and use, shaping both their aesthetics and their functionality. In Afrofuturism, this connection is celebrated through designs that honor African heritage while envisioning futuristic possibilities. Solarpunk, too, integrates cultural narratives into its sustainable and community-focused designs.
In user experience design, incorporating symbolic or narrative elements can create interfaces that feel both personal and universally connected. Imagine a UI inspired by fractal geometry, where the visual language evokes themes of interconnectedness and growth. By embedding cultural significance into design, we create tools that resonate deeply with users, bridging the gap between tradition and innovation.
Applications in Modern Design
By integrating Eglash’s and Meadow’s insights, we see powerful lessons for our modern design practices
- Cultural Heritage as a Design Foundation: Eglash’s work reminds us that cultural context is crucial for meaningful design. Wakanda’s tools and technologies honor this principle, as should real-world design systems that reflect the identities and values of their users.
- Scalable, Recursive Systems: Meadows talks recursion and feedback alot in Thinking in Systems. The recursion that happens in fractals allows how to see even a tiny, well-designed component can build on itself to create harmonious, functional, and scalable design systems. Creating these complete systems allows for more efficient, dependable design and code.
- Interdependence Drives Innovation: Whether in fractal village layouts or Wakandan technology, interdependence ensures that each part contributes to and benefits from the whole. Modern design frameworks can leverage this concept to create efficient, interconnected systems.
From African fractals and Thinking in Systems designers can create digital products that are scalable, efficient, and deeply resonant. These principles remind us that every component in a system contributes to the whole and that thoughtful connections between parts lead to harmony and innovation. As I go forward creating more design systems, I’ll keep an eye out on interdependence is reflected and how that creates a positive feedback for some scalability. What feedback loops can we nurture, and how might small changes ripple outward to create meaningful impact?