Designing for Tactics

In the reading and in class a distinction was made between tactics and strategy. Strategy is the mode of operation that is based on classifying and delimiting spaces into functions, serving an economic and political agenda. This is a very rational and scientific way of separating spaces making them “proper”. Tactics on the other hand are the way people actually use the space operating in time. They seek to use the opportunities that a place has to offer even if it is not meant to be used for that purpose and can sometimes be opposed to the overall strategy intended by the planners and designers.

Towards the end of class, we discussed whether we can as designers operate in a tactical manner. I don’t think that it is possible. We can’t control what happens in a space and that is left to the people that inhabit and change the space to their use. Our role is limited to a strategic approach. When we draw a line, it is meant of delineate a space so it reflects an overall concept or strategy.

However, I believe we are able to recognize patterns of everyday life and try to create the framework so that they can occur if they are. I think that programming tactics goes against the very idea of a “tactic”. We should leave people to determine what they want and not try to get in the way of their creative freedom. Our best action is to acknowledge and support these tactics within our strategy.