Universal Principles of Storytelling for Designers

Literary Device

The Trigger or Wicked Problem

The reasons we tell stories and design things—the why behind the what.

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While some problems are straightforward, only requiring critical and creative thinking, others are more formidable and deemed “wicked.” By revealing a wicked problem in your narrative, you share the criticality of a design exercise.

In mythology, a daunting predicament (wicked problem) can equate to a life-or-death struggle for a hero. In the real world, addressing wicked problems becomes imperative due to their potential to trigger severe fiscal, social, and brand crises if unresolved.

In 1973, Horst Rittel introduced ten ...