HetConcept

HetConcept is a multidisciplinary framework for organizing ideas and guiding collaborative design processes. The name blends the definite article from Dutch with the English word concept, signaling a focus on the unity of ideas across domains. The framework treats knowledge as an interconnected network of concept nodes, relationships, and governing rules, enabling teams to explore alternatives, assess consequences, and align objectives.

Structure and approach: HetConcept employs modular components—concept nodes, relationship types, and governance rules. Nodes represent ideas or artifacts; relationships encode dependencies, hierarchies, causality, and compatibility. The method prescribes a lightweight ontology, simple notation, and visualization techniques such as concept maps and scenario graphs. Iterative refinement occurs through collaborative sessions and versioned repositories to track evolution.

Origins and reception: HetConcept emerged in theoretical discussions of knowledge representation and design thinking. Proponents argue it improves cross-disciplinary communication, reduces ambiguity, and supports decision making under uncertainty. Critics caution that without domain-specific schemas, the framework risks abstraction that hinders practical execution.

Applications: It has been applied to education for curriculum mapping, product development for feature road-mapping, and information architecture for digital libraries. In research planning, HetConcept helps teams align goals, hypotheses, and methods within a shared conceptual landscape.

Variants and related concepts: Tools and environments branded as HetConcept Studio provide ontology-building and visualization support. Related ideas include concept mapping, knowledge graphs, and design-to-reasoning frameworks.