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Edifice

Represents our foundational knowledge and templates

Value

Focuses on self-generated content that's meaningful to us

Orientation

Acknowledges that some information has unique attributes or contexts

Loot

Recognizes the importance of external resources we collect

Venue

Mirrors how we naturally associate information with different areas of our lives

Element

Reflects the supporting details that tie our knowledge together

Introducing E.V.O.L.V.E. - Highly Structural Huma Centric Personal Knowledge Management Method

It’s time to leave behind all the struggles you’ve faced while setting up your personal information management system.

No matter where your journey of establishing a personal information management system began, with E.V.O.L.V.E.—a highly structured, flexible, and capable method based on the V.I.F.Y. system—things will become much less confusing.

With this method, you’ll be able to structure your information better according to your needs.

We know you’ve tried methods that are endless, highly confusing, very clear in theory but unstable in practice.

You don’t need those anymore.

You are now facing a method that will help you set up an information management system at any level you desire.

This method is suitable for everyone. Whether you’ve been exposed to the “PARA-diation” lived in the Zettelkasten realm, or are a “light mode notepad” enthusiast.

Why Was the E.V.O.L.V.E. Method Created?

Uncovering Your Needs

This method was developed to prevent people from wasting time on action-based methods.

Any system that forgets we live within the fabric of space-time leads to a loss of interest and focus issues.

Every disorder that captures our attention pushes our needs further away.

So, what exactly do we need?

Just as a well-organized desk setup helps us focus, a method with highly structured, simple rules will be equally helpful for managing your information.

Every Method is a Tool, Not an End Goal

At the end of the day, all methods must serve as tools for managing our information.

However, with most existing methods, we spend more time on our own data and notes.

Unfortunately, we see that many methods have ceased to be tools and have become the main objective.

At this point, the V.I.F.Y. philosophy and system emerged, focusing on clarity and human development rather than being action-oriented.

Rediscovering Human-Development-Oriented Systems

The E.V.O.L.V.E. method has emerged as an alternative approach in this era dominated by action-oriented systems and digital organization techniques.

The priority of human-development-oriented systems is to put everything in its place.

A method is a tool.

The goal is to establish an information management system that will take the person further, free from anxiety.

Therefore, a method that presents what should be in a living system with simple rules was necessary.

Different Stories, Different Needs, A Method That Doesn’t Get Lost While Adapting

Could there be a method that would help you no matter where you are in your personal information management journey?

As you began taking notes, recording tasks, and scheduling meetings on your calendar, you encountered various software and online solutions.

When Office applications no longer sufficed, you moved on to Notepad, Apple Notes, and then Google Keep.

Later, you discovered Notion, Obsidian, Tana, Logseq, Anytype, Affine.

Are you an outliner or a long-form writer? Attributes, plugins, and then methods—does it feel like one brain isn’t enough, so you need a second brain?

Then came the struggle to convince yourself within methods that didn’t suit you.

So, why did you start throwing everything into a single archive folder once you were done?

Whether this is the first information management system you will use, or if you’ve already ventured into the dark side of note-taking and personal information management, the E.V.O.L.V.E. method is designed to meet your needs—from flexible and beginner levels to complex and advanced levels.

With its flexible and multi-layered approach, the E.V.O.L.V.E. method will resonate with you no matter where you are in your PKM (Personal Knowledge Management) journey.

E.V.O.L.V.E.’s motto is “Not Second Brain, For Your Brain”

Foundations of the E.V.O.L.V.E. Method

The E.V.O.L.V.E. method derives its name from the initial letters of the core concepts that form the foundation of the method. It is an acronym.

In the journey of information management, various criteria and management styles have been evaluated, revealing that all needs can be categorized into three fundamental types.

Within the E.V.O.L.V.E. method, there are three main points  that serve as the foundation from which the building blocks are created.

  1. Content
  2. Space-Time Texture
  3. Component

If you find yourself getting lost in the details, you can always refer back to these three fundamental points.

The acronym stands for Edifice, Value, Orientation, Loot, Venue, Element.

These concepts are the building blocks.
The next level under the building blocks is types.
Under types, there are subtypes.
With the expansion of the method, beyond the original types and subtypes, there are special types or special subtypes for those who want to integrate additional elements (custom type, custom subtype).

In the E.V.O.L.V.E. method, it is possible to manage all information through classification with six building blocks.

However, for an average level of complexity in information management, it is more appropriate to use the building blocks and original types.

Especially for a structure focused on human development, utilizing the types is also important.

Main Points → Key Points → Types + Custom Types → Subtypes + Custom Subtypes

Main Points

Content

This concept defines all types of information that are created or collected from different sources. Content can be:

  1. Created
  2. Collected from various sources.

Space-Time Texture

In an information management system, not all information or concepts are content. Content needs to be classified and enter a life cycle according to its usage. Just like people, information exists in different timeframes. The concept of Space-Time Texture is used to determine where content is located and its place in the life cycle. Every piece of data first exists in chaos, then moves into action, and finally rests in peace (in the V.I.F.Y.-based system: VORTEX, ACT, REST).

Space-Time Texture:

  1. Vortex
  2. Act
  3. Rest

Components

In the E.V.O.L.V.E. system, structures that assist and complement the other fundamental points beyond content and space-time texture are called components. They do not carry inherent content value on their own. Instead, they define supportive structures. Components describe content, assist in the process of content becoming content, or create queries and collections of content. They complete content, serve as auxiliary parts of content, or are special collections formed from content. These are auxiliary particles that do not exist independently.

Components:

  1. Collections
  2. Definer
  3. Helper

 

 

Key Points

The E.V.O.L.V.E. method is built on three fundamental points and focuses on V.I.F.Y.-based behavior.

Unlike action-oriented or priority-based systems, it does not direct the user. Instead, it aims to eliminate the user’s anxiety about how to manage information, whether in its use or creation according to needs.

By incorporating the space-time texture, it allows information to “live” as it would in the real world. While being more human-centric, its highly structured system is compatible with digital data management systems at every level.

When there’s no anxiety about order, there is no method that becomes an end goal rather than a tool.

The first step toward ensuring correct actions and tasks can be taken with the E.V.O.L.V.E. method.

In the E.V.O.L.V.E. method, there are three fundamental points and six key points that give the method its name.

These key points form the acronym of the method’s name. With these key points, it is possible to manage all digital information.

Each key point has its own unique features and purposes.

The six key points belong to the three fundamental points of the method.

The key points are the most basic levels that define content, space-time texture, and components.

The level below key points is referred to as types, with default types already present within the method.

Users can enrich these with custom types if desired.

Below types are subtypes.

There are no default subtypes; users can create their own custom subtypes.

Edifice

Edifice refers to content. Static content and templates fall under this concept.

Forms to be filled out represent routine static content that is used all the time.

You can use the Edifice concept for your fixed, unchanging content that you always use.

By making this distinction, you can differentiate from production-focused content and manage your data structured as Edifice more efficiently in projects involving multiple types of content.

The key point of Edifice is divided into 3 default types:

1- Template

Every template you want but self-oriented content.

2- Form

Application forms, survey forms, tests.

3- Routine

Signatures, greetings, quick replies, saved responses, etc.

Value

Value refers to content. It encompasses independent user-generated content.

This includes any content created by users, which does not have any specific driving attributes.

It can be action-oriented or situation-oriented.

Projects, individual situations, single tasks, thoughts, and creative content all fall under this concept.

The key point of Value is its encompassing nature of the content concept.

In all time periods, information produced by users becomes Value.

While the key point of Value exists as a single type in chaos, information emerging from chaos can continue as Value or evolve into other content key points (Edifice, Orientation).

The key point of Value is divided into 3 default types:

1- Mono

This type refers to singular content. Single tasks, single notes, single situations, single ideas.

These can be classified under Act and Rest Venue types. They are categorized contents.

2- Poly

This type refers to plural content. Multiple tasks, projects.

It can include integrated structures. If you are managing a large project, you can define it as Poly.

Similarly, you can define a shopping list task as Poly.

Everything can be structured and stored under the Poly type in your Value folder. Whether it’s long-term, a task, or confusion, all can be managed as Poly. The distinction is made by their life cycles. They can be found under Act and Rest Venue types. They are categorized contents.

3- Jot

Jot is a special type of content.

Sometimes, content is at a level of maturity that is neither plural nor singular.

As in the V.I.F.Y. system, all information starts in chaos.

Within the vortex, there are only two key points: Value and Loot.

Since Loot refers to external data, all remaining user-generated information belongs to the Value key point and is categorized as Jot.

When you start a new project draft, it is considered a Jot type of Value key point.

Even a single-word content falls under Jot.

During the interpretation step in the V.I.F.Y. system, you move Jots to a different space-time texture within the E.V.O.L.V.E. method and take action on them.

In chaos, everything you create is a Jot. Outside the vortex, Jots do not exist. This logic encourages you to classify and structure your information when you take action on it, helping you manage and organize effectively.

Orientation

This concept defines special content produced by users that the Value key point alone cannot encompass.

The Orientation key point describes information created by users that has unique driving attributes.

As the name suggests, it represents information that can be formed according to different attributes.

Since this key point is unconventional, its necessity will become clear with user experience.

Specifically, singular and multiple pieces of information that should serve as a situation or data repository exhibit their own unique orientation.

They have internal rules and are neither projects nor activities per se. For example, things with time-oriented aspects need to be structured according to their unique features.

Your journals, habit pages with continuous focus on importance, details of a location, or any work describing a relationship network fall under Orientation.

They can be categorized under Act and Rest Venue types.

They are classified contents with their own unique orientations.

The Orientation key point has 5 default types:

1- Hierarchies

Used for all hierarchical data.

2- Time

Time-dependent data. Journals, Calendars, Habits. Charts.

3- People

Information content related to people and human relationships.

4- Locations

Places, cities, countries, and all location-oriented information about any formation.

5- Relations

All relationship-focused and oriented information.

LOOT

This concept is the most specialized key point within the content key point.

It primarily defines external or user-created visual content, document formats, or external links, beyond written content.

This key point can exist within the entire space-time fabric with its own default types.

Loot includes items such as things you’ve captured from the internet, saved articles for later reading, reference images, your own created visuals, videos, all files, and links.

The Loot key point is divided into 2 default types:

1- Owned

User-generated content.

2- Linked

External sources.

Venue

The E.V.O.L.V.E. method rejects traditional categories and haphazard, confusing bright spaces, finding them unacceptable.

Instead, it provides high-level structuring by asking questions about what information is and at which phase it is.

The Venue key point represents the space-time fabric, blending the concepts of time and space.

The Venue key point encompasses all key points that are content and component-related, enveloping them in terms of space and time.

Every piece of information is wrapped by a Venue key point and its default types. The default types of the Venue key point are structured based on the V.I.F.Y. system, defining the time aspect of the space-time texture.

Your information can pertain to specific areas of your life, such as “work,” “life,” or “family.”

For example, after defining the Work page using the Venue key point, you can easily categorize a project related to work as having a Venue value of “work.”

If this information is in action, it is structured as the “act” type of the Venue key point. (Work / Act)

The Venue key point is fixed to 3 default types, within which content and components complete their life cycles.

1- Vortex

According to the V.I.F.Y. system approach, all our information is initially in chaos.

The Vortex type includes information related to Value/Jot or Loot/Owned & Linked concepts. The Vortex type is specific to each Venue.

It is crucial to create separate chaos areas for information that should not be mixed.

In the busy tempo of the day, you can quickly save your information in the Vortex type by differentiating it only within the Venue key point. In the second interpretation step, you can then structure it as the “act” type.

The basic concept of a system that addresses procrastination is the Vortex type.

2- Act

This type represents the active area of action within the Venue key point.

Whether it is content saved in the Vortex type or information you are working on directly, it continues its life cycle in the Act default type.

3- Rest

A unique structure within the E.V.O.L.V.E. method is the Rest type.

To make all data that continues its life in the Act type and where your work is finished inactive, you only need to move it to this type within its Venue key point.

The Rest default type creates a distinctive archiving system.

Putting data from different Venue key points into a single archive or trash can create a very complex structure.

Additionally, when you want to reuse it, you would need to go through a reorganization process. In the E.V.O.L.V.E. method, you should transition from the Rest type to the Act type.

Element

The Element key point belongs to the component base point.

It represents information that does not create value on its own but serves as supporting elements for content.

Examples include collections, MOCs (Maps of Content), attributes, identifiers, query results, and summary data.

The Element key point has 3 default types:

1- Amass

  • Collections
  • Indexes
  • Maps
  • MOCs (Maps of Content)
  • TOCs (Tables of Contents)
  • Dashboards
  • Nested Content Boards
  • Portals
  • Queries

2- Definer

  • Definers
  • Properties
  • Attributes
  • Classes
  • Types

3- Helper

  • Tag types
  • Information priority classes

Understanding the E.V.O.L.V.E. Method

The method revolves around two fundamental questions:

  1. Where?
  2. What?

The “What?” question determines what the information is, while the “Where?” question identifies its place within the space-time texture.

For example, let’s examine the information formation of “Project1.” First, we determine the space-time fabric base point by asking where it is. Suppose the Venue key point is “Work.”

What will the Venue type be?
Depending on your use case, you might leave it as the Vortex type.

This way, “Project1” can be immediately recorded as a Value and Jot type.

Alternatively, based on the second scenario, you can directly proceed to structuring it. Given that we assumed the Venue key point is “Work,” the Venue type will now be “Act.”

Now, let’s answer the “What?” question. Due to the characteristics and purpose of “Project1,” it will be of the Value key point type “Poly.”

That’s it for the configuration!

What if you have a habit project?
Quickly answer:
“Walking 2 km every day”
Where: Life (Venue name) / Act
What: Orientation / Time / Habits (Subtype)

That’s it!

When you want to create a Map of Content (MOC), you can easily determine that it is an Element key point of the “Amass” type. Of course, this is after establishing the space-time texture.

 

E.V.O.L.V.E. Method Use Cases

Tags

  • Use labels to categorize and identify different pieces of information within the E.V.O.L.V.E. method.
  • Labels can help you quickly sort and locate content based on specific attributes or contexts.

Attributes /Properties

  • Attributes / Properties define specific characteristics or properties of the information.
  • Use attributes /properties to provide additional context or details that differentiate pieces of information within a category or type.

Folders

  • Organize your information into folders to manage and access content efficiently.
  • Folders can be structured based on the Venue key points, such as “Work,” “Life,” or “Projects,” and can include various types of content.

Complex Systems

  • Implement complex systems for managing intricate projects or extensive collections of information.
  • Use the E.V.O.L.V.E. method to structure and organize information in a way that accommodates complex relationships and dependencies.

 

 

 

 

 

E.V.O.L.V.E. Usage Levels

Multiple Venue Usage

  • Apply multiple Venue key points to organize and manage information across various contexts and scenarios.
  • Use different Venue types, such as “Act” or “Rest,” to categorize and structure information effectively.

Single Venue and Vortex Act Rest Usage

  • Utilize a single Venue key point with Vortex, Act, and Rest types to manage and organize information.
  • Apply this approach to streamline information management by focusing on one Venue while differentiating between active, inactive, and chaotic content.

Key Point Level Usage

  • Implement the E.V.O.L.V.E. method at the key point level to manage and structure content based on its core attributes and roles.
  • Organize information by defining its key point, such as Value, Orientation, or Element, and apply appropriate types and classifications.

Type Level Usage

  • Apply the method at the type level to manage information based on its specific type and characteristics.
  • Use types such as “Poly,” “Mono,” or “Jot” to categorize and structure content according to its nature and function.

Task Management

  • Use the E.V.O.L.V.E. method to streamline task management by organizing tasks based on Venue key points and types.
  • Implement different Venue types to track task status, progress, and context.

Project Management

  • Apply the method to manage projects by categorizing and structuring project-related information.
  • Use Venue key points and types to define project phases, milestones, and tasks, ensuring effective project organization and tracking.

Applications

  • Notion: A versatile tool for organizing information, tasks, and projects using the E.V.O.L.V.E. method.
  • Obsidian: A knowledge management tool that supports linking and structuring information with the E.V.O.L.V.E. method.
  • Logseq: A tool for note-taking and project management, ideal for applying the E.V.O.L.V.E. method.
  • Anytype: A flexible platform for managing information and projects using various key points and types from the E.V.O.L.V.E. method.
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