Sign in Subscribe

World of Activity #4: The Thematic Identity Curation Framework

Last updated on 
World of Activity #4: The Thematic Identity Curation Framework
Thematic Identity Curation

The Thematic Identity Curation Framework addresses the dynamic transformation between Theme and Identity within the Project Engagement Approach.

by Oliver Ding

This article is part of the World of Activity series on the Activity Analysis site. In this series, we use the World of Activity toolkit as a creative heuristic to explore new themes and encourage discussions around resonant topics with your friends and colleagues.

In this article, we introduce the Thematic Identity Curation framework, a specific framework that aims to explore the transformation between Thematic Curation and Identity Building within the Project Engagement Approach (V3.1).

Contents

Themes, Identity, and Project Engagement
Thematic Curation as Identity Building
Thematic Echo
Thematic Blend
Case Study: The Thematic Blend of "Theoretical Integration"
Thematic Integration
Creative Projects
The Power of Creative Space
Identity Development
The Microdynamics of Creative Identity
Conclusion: Bridging Thematic Curation and Identity Development

Themes, Identity, and Project Engagement


The Project Engagement Approach is a project-centered social theory inspired by Andy Blunden's notion of the "project as a unit of analysis of activity." It aims to establish the concept of the "Project" as a theoretical foundation for cross-disciplinary research, creative dialogue, and deep reflection.

A core model of the approach is the Developmental Project Model (see the diagram below), which outlines eight elements that describe a developmental project.

  • Purpose: Why do you want to initiate or join the project?
  • Position: What is the social structure of the project?
  • Program: Does the project follow formal organizational processes?
  • Social: How do you connect with others through your participation?
  • Content: What new information and knowledge do you acquire by joining the project?
  • Action: What concrete actions do you take in the project?
  • Theme: Do you discover new and interesting themes for your life development?
  • Identity: How does your perception of your identity change before and after joining the project?

“Theme” and “Identity” are two key elements of the Developmental Project Model. Between 2021 and 2024, I developed several knowledge frameworks focused on themes, identity, and related concepts.

Your identity is shaped by how others view “what you do” and “who you are,” but it’s also a part of your self-knowledge. From the perspective of the Project Engagement approach, identity is a core element of the Developmental Project Model and is deeply interconnected with the other elements.

Every time you join or leave a project, your identity evolves. This ongoing evolution is what I refer to as the Microdynamics of Identity.

Life is a chain of projects, it is also a projection of social life. By adopting the Developmental Project Model, we gain a structured way to reflect on the development of both personal and social life, allowing us to connect psychology, sociology, and other disciplines in a single unit of analysis.

Thematic Curation as Identity Building


“Theme” and “Identity” are two key elements of the Developmental Project Model, which forms the foundation of the Project Engagement approach. Between 2021 and 2024, I developed several knowledge frameworks focused on themes, identity, and related concepts.

In May 2024, I connected Thematic Curation and Identity Building and developed the Thematic Identity Curation framework, curating a series of knowledge frameworks, and forming a toolkit for building a creative identity. Refer to the large diagram below for details.

In this framework, we adopted the concept of "Thematic Space" from Thematic Space Theory. In this context, a person’s identity is a dynamic process of thematic curation. Individuals move between various thematic spaces over their life course.

Each thematic space contains a primary theme along with several secondary themes.

Through this journey, a person may uncover a meaningful chain of life themes, revealing connections across different thematic spaces, thus turning them into a meaningful whole. This process is what I call Thematic Identity Curation.

How does it work?

  • Understand the thematic aspects of your ideal identity.
  • Discover past life themes that align with these aspects.
  • Design new projects that emphasize these thematic aspects.
  • Use a framework to manage the entire process.

The Thematic Identity Curation framework highlights the following moments:

  • Thematic Echo
  • Thematic Blend
  • Thematic Integration
  • Creative Projects
  • Identity Development

Each of these moments is paired with a relevant knowledge framework, forming a comprehensive toolkit.

Thematic Echo


The term ECHO comes from the ECHO Way, which is both a book draft and a framework. The ECHO Way explores the fit between individuals and their environment. This fit occurs in the Echozone, the third container in the following model.

The term “echo” in Echozone refers to the connection between two containers. This connection can lead to significant insights, which may transform either Container X, Container Y, or both. The Echozone can also produce something entirely new that transcends X and Y.

I use Thematic Echo to describe significant moments that emerge from dialogue between two thematic spaces. For instance, the diagram below illustrates a thematic echo between Project-oriented Activity Theory and Curativity Theory.

In April 2021, I began learning Genre Theory. I designed a new diagram for Themes of Practice and shared it on Twitter to discuss Genre Theory. At the time, I didn’t realize the diagram provided a concrete framework for analysis.

In June 2021, I started the Career Curation project, applying the idea of Themes of Practice to create a new concept: Career Themes. This marked a shift from an abstract to a more concrete level of understanding. I realized that the diagram I had created was a powerful tool for analyzing career themes, as it structured the “Practice” part of Themes of Practice.

Later, I formalized this diagram as the Themes of Practice framework. Upon closer examination, you’ll notice several sub-dimensions in the diagram, such as “Concept”, “Project”, and “Activity”.

It’s important to note that I use “Concept”, “Project”, and “Activity” as operational components within the Themes of Practice framework. However, I also draw from Concept Theory, Activity Theory, and Project-oriented Activity Theory as theoretical resources for the framework.

This marks the third thematic echo between Project-oriented Activity Theory and the Themes of Practice framework. For more details, refer to Themes of Practice (2019–2021) and The Echoes of A Thematic Dialogue.

Thematic Blend


“Thematic Blend” refers to the process of blending several thematic echoes to uncover a cohesive creative life theme.

For instance, the diagram below illustrates a thematic dialogue between the “Activity” thematic space and the “Opportunity” thematic space, spanning from 2019 to 2022 in my creative journey.

During this period, six significant echoes emerged within the thematic dialogue.

  • Sept 29, 2020 — Echo 1: The “Hierarchy” of Human Activity
  • Dec 26, 2022 — Echo 2: “Formation of Concept” and “Themes of Practice”
  • April 2021 — Echo 3: The “Themes of Practice” Framework
  • July 20, 2022 — Echo 4: Rethinking Activity Theory
  • July 31, 2022 — Echo 5: Controversy Mapping and The Thematic Controversy Project
  • Sept 6, 2022 — Echo 6: Grow A Knowledge Enterprise

You can find further details in The “Activity — Opportunity” Thematic Dialogue and The Echoes of A Thematic Dialogue.

In this example, I used Mapping Thematic Dialogue as a method to conduct a Thematic Blend. I’ve also developed additional diagrams to demonstrate thematic blending. In the next section, I will share an example of blending around the theme of Theoretical Integration with a new diagram.

Case Study: The Thematic Blend of "Theoretical Integration"


In April 2024, I reflected on four knowledge projects from 2020 to 2023 and discovered a shared theme called "Theoretical Integration." This insight led me to run a thematic blend with the diagram below.

In a blog post titled Meaning Discovery: The “Journey — Challenge — Response” Thematic Space (written on Jan 16, 2024), I described my experience with a thematic blend in the following way:

In the early of Oct 2023, I realized that I did the same thing in 2020.

In 2020, I didn’t know that I was doing a “Theoretical Integration” project.

If someone asked me to do a “Theoretical Integration” project at that time, I wouldn’t accept the challenge because I should believe I couldn’t do it.

In Oct 2023, I was not a Theoretical Psychologist.

I just did an exercise of playing with some techniques of theoretical integration.

I learned these techniques from theoretical sociologists and applied them to a project about curating psychological theories.

……

Today I’d like to find more projects to form a Creative Journey of “Theoretical Integration”.

The following timeline highlights key projects contributing to this creative journey:

  • 2020: The “Project Engagement” project
  • 2022: The “Creative Life Curation” project
  • 2023: The “Mindset” project
  • 2023: The “Social Moves” project

On April 14, 2024, I created several diagrams to visualize this thematic blend. The image below represents the first creative project. In 2020, I worked on the Activity U project, curating various theoretical approaches within Activity Theory. A by-product of the project was the Project Engagement Approach (v1.0), which integrated the Activity System Model (Yrjö Engeström, 1987) and Activity as Formation of Concept (Andy Blunden, 2010, 2012, 2014) into a cohesive theoretical framework.

In October 2022, I worked on the Creative Life Curation project. Using the "Ontology - Realism - Hermeneutics" schema as a meta-framework, I integrated four knowledge frameworks into a cohesive whole.

In September 2023, I worked on the Mindset project to develop a new psychological theory of Mindset. I began by examining two major research projects on Mindset and connecting them, which led to the development of a meta-framework called Mental Tuning.

In December 2023, I worked on the Social Moves project and developed an integrated Ecological Approach to Social Cognition, which includes the Ecological Formism framework and the Ecological Actualism framework.

All four projects share the same creative space, framed by the following four themes:

  • Theoretical Sociology
  • Activity Theory
  • Ecological Psychology
  • The Psychology of Creativity

I consider the “Creative Life” thematic space a creative space for connecting Sociology and Psychology. The uniqueness of “Creative Life” approach lies in its view on “Life,” which refers to both individual and social life.

Each project within this creative space emphasizes Theoretical Integration as a core method. When these four projects are brought together, they collectively shape a thematic space centered around Theoretical Integration.

This blend also reflects the microdynamics of creative identity.

So, is Oliver Ding a theoretical psychologist?

The answer is less important than the process of becoming one—by actively doing what a theoretical psychologist does.

Thematic Integration


Thematic Integration refers to curating a set of creative life themes and projects together to form a cohesive, meaningful whole.

I used three tools in this process: the Thematic Landscape Map, the Knowledge Discovery Canvas, and the Thematic Scrapboard.

  • Thematic Landscape Map

The Thematic Landscape Map provides a comprehensive view of everything related to a specific creative life theme, including the outcome of creative production around that theme.

This method is structured using three nested circles:

  • Theme (Inner Circle): Represents Themes and Books.
  • Work (Middle Circle): Represents Projects and two types of Knowledge Frameworks – Abstract Models and Concrete Models.
  • Play (Outer Circle): Represents Programs that encompass two key aspects: Tools and Actions.

While the Theme and the Work circles are about knowledge makers' work, the Play circle represents the collaborative space between knowledge makers and knowledge users.

On September 2, 2022, I used my "Curativity" Knowledge Enterprise as an example to develop the Mapping Thematic Landscape method. The final result was a large diagram (see the screenshot below). Additional information is available in Mapping Thematic Landscape (Curativity, 2019–2022).

I use “Curativity” as an example of a meta-theory. While the concept of “Curativity” is part of the Ecological Practice Approach, it has led to a series of projects, including the Knowlege Curation project, the Life Curation project, and the Career Curation project. My “Curativity” thematic space became a large knowledge enterprise.

The primary theme of my "Curativity" knowledge enterprise is the concept of "Curativity".In March 2019, I finished a 615-page Google Doc titled Curativity: The Ecological Approach to General Curation Practice. In August 2020, I started the Knowledge Curation project and the first sub-project is the Activity U project. This journey led to the following secondary themes:

  • Affordance
  • Activity
  • Anticipation
  • Concept
  • Diagram

This thematic map was created in September 2022. Since then, I have continued developing more theoretical frameworks, and eventually, some of these secondary themes have grown into independent knowledge enterprises.

In January 2025, I used the diagram below to represent the newest landscape of the "Curativity" knowledge enterprise.

More details can be found in The Landscape of Curativity Theory (January 1, 2025).

  • Knowledge Discovery Canvas

For knowledge creators, the Knowledge Discovery Canvas helps define nine types of creative thematic spaces. See the picture below.

For instance, on October 31, 2023, I identified eight thematic spaces centered around the primary theme of Creative Life. More details can be found in Creative Life Curation: Discover Thematic Spaces of Creative Life.

The process of Thematic Integration offers more than just an overview — it enables actions such as merging similar themes, planning new projects to bridge themes, and identifying potential new themes.

One effective technique is understanding your thematic preference. Since it’s impossible to work on all thematic spaces and projects simultaneously, you need to prioritize and select a primary thematic space for your next knowledge project.

For example, the diagram below shows my thematic preference in April 2024.

The first category (DO and SAY) focuses on Creative Work. I categorized four thematic spaces under this because they are directly related to creative actions:

  • Value Circle
  • Theoretical Integration
  • Frame for Work
  • Life Reflection

The second category (THINK and LEARN) is concerned with Meta-knowledge about life and work. I placed the following four thematic spaces in this category:

  • Mental Moves
  • Social Moves
  • Diagram Blending
  • Situational Note-taking

In essence, Thematic Integration provides the foundation for making strategic moves in the development of a creative identity.

  • Thematic Scrapboard

While the previous two tools focus on structural curation, the Thematic Scrapboard emphasizes free exploration.

I often curate my mind by diagramming with pictures, text, and symbols. In 2023, I developed a new visual style of diagrams to connect Themes, Thematic Spaces, and Knowledge Models. This new type of diagram is called Thematic Scrapboard.

A Thematic Scrapboard consists of three different types of elements. See the example below.

  • Thematic Cards (pictures)
  • Thematic Spaces
  • Mental Models

I follow these rules when creating this special type of diagram:

  • Using Thematic Cards (Pictures) to represent Possible Themes.
  • Red dots refer to Thematic Spaces.
  • A Knowledge Model serves as the context for diagramming
  • Make personal tacit knowledge visible
  • Maintain loose connections between mental elements

For more details and examples of Thematic Scrapboard, see TALE: Thematic Scrapboard.

Creative Projects


A key aspect of the Thematic Identity Curation toolkit is the execution of creative projects. I employed the Developmental Project Model, a core component of the Project Engagement approach, to guide this process.

In a 2021 article titled Personal Innovation as Career-fit, I explored this model using the Activity U project as an example. I initiated the Activity U project in August 2020. The diagram below uses the Developmental Project Model to reflect on my experience throughout the project.

It began on August 19, 2020, with a simple diagram called Activity U, which was an experiment with the HERO U framework. I wrote a post explaining the diagram, originally titled Activity U: The Landscape of Activity Theory. As the project grew, I appended “(Part I)” to the title, expanding it from a single post to a series of articles.

The Activity U project became a long-term engagement with Activity Theory, marking a significant chapter in my creative journey.

The Activity U project follows a distinct method that can be used to design and manage creative projects within the journey of Thematic Identity Curation. See the diagram below.

The Theme U diagram presents six themes arranged in a U shape. I have used this diagram extensively since June 2020. Theme U is not just about the six themes; it’s about representing complex thematic relationships through spatial mediation.

The Project I diagram is inspired by the Developmental Project Model. I modified its shape and layout to create a Diagram Blending approach, which can be used to curate and integrate multiple frameworks.

Container Z is inspired by the following meta-diagram. The ECHO Way explores the fit between two sides. Where does this fit occur? It happens in the Echozone, which serves as the third container in the following model.

Thematic Identity Curation is part of the Life Discovery Activity, which is a “cross-the-gap” activity aimed at exploring a new place in a specific direction. There is a spatial distance between the existing place (where we are) and the expected place (where we want to be).

We can think of Life Discovery as Boundary Innovation, as it involves a dialogue between the Present (the existing place) and the Future (the expected place).

Now, let’s apply the ECHO Way (v2.0) to the “Present — Future” fit for the Life Discovery Activity. This process can roughly be divided into three phases:

  • Life U: Think with the Theme U diagram.
  • Project I: Act with the Developmental Project model.
  • Echo Z: Reach the end of the journey - an expected place.

This three-phase structure emphasizes the Think — Act — Reach sequence. The second type of action is designed with the Project I diagram. For example, the diagram below, called HERO U, is a framework for a single theory knowledge curation project.

The HERO U framework has two parts:

  • Theme U: It displays six types of “objectives of knowing” about a single theory in a U-shaped diagram.
  • Project I: It designs a knowledge curation project around that theory.

If your projects are not focused on knowledge curation, you don’t need to use the HERO U framework or its canvas. However, you can design your own project model and related tools tailored to your activities.

The Power of Creative Space


For the Mindset project, I used the “Creative Life” Container Z as the creative space. See the diagram below.

The diagram above presents the theme of "Theoretical Integration" at its core. So, what exactly do we do with it?

A simple technique is what theoretical sociologist Thomas J. Fararo and his student John Skvoretz referred to as a “hierarchical meaning control system.”

According to Fararo and Skvoretz, “Calling this a meaning control hierarchy is intended to emphasize that higher levels constitute commitments that ‘inform’ — enable and constrain — the lower level activities or discoveries.”

Different theorists present various models of their own “hierarchical meaning control system” using different terms. For example, Fararo and Skvoretz proposed four levels:

  • General presuppositions
  • Representation principles
  • Theoretical Models
  • Invariants

I use different terms for four levels in the above discussion:

  • Philosophical Orienting Views
  • Theoretical Traditions
  • Formal Theories
  • Theoretical Approaches

Essentially, we can use “Meta-theory” and “Theory” to describe the “hierarchical meaning control system.”

Now, let’s focus on the Echozone of the Activity U project. The diagram below highlights the Echozone with some notes to discuss the process of fit between creaive themes and developmental projects.

The above diagram presents the fits of two pairs of opposite themes. The “Theory vs. Practice” fit is described through three movements:

  • Practice-based Reflection: Building rough models with intuition.
  • Theory-based Reflection: Improving models with theoretical resources.
  • Theory-Practice Dialogue: Turning models into frameworks and testing them with case studies.

The article Platform Innovation as Concept-fit provides a real example of these three steps.

This creative space and the Echozone have guided my creative journey over the past several years!

Identity Development


To manage the overall process of identity development, I utilized the Persona Dynamics Framework (Oliver Ding, 2019, 2022). See the diagram below.

Traditional social psychology and sociology theories often focus on interpersonal actions or social roles as units of analysis. Inspired by interaction design and digital social practices, I adopted the term Persona from the field of User Experience (UX) to define an intermediary entity between a person and their social role:

  • Person
  • Persona
  • Social Role

The Persona Dynamics Framework (v2.0) builds upon three key components:

  • Persona Dynamics Framework (v1.0)
  • Possible Selves Theory
  • Anticipatory Activity System (AAS) framework

At the core of the framework is the concept of Possible Personas and the Persona — Activity Fit. A person can have multiple Personas, each associated with a specific activity. Moreover, the Persona — Activity Fit is often perceived by others. See the diagram below.

What’s the difference between Possible Personas and Actual Personas?

  • Possible Personas: These represent personas a person contemplates but where no actual Persona — Activity Fit has yet occurred.
  • Actual Personas: These are personas with established Persona — Activity Fits, perceived by others in real situations.

In other words, Actual Personas emphasize real actions and others’ perceptions.

How do Possible Personas differ from Possible Selves?

  • Possible Personas concern both thoughts and actions, while Possible Selves focus only on thoughts.
  • Possible Personas encompass both subjective and objective aspects, whereas Possible Selves are confined to subjective anticipation.

When we combine these two concepts, we can find a path to actualize Possible Selves. There are many possible personas, but only some can transform into Actual Personas. The key to this transformation is the Persona — Activity Fit.

Ultimately, some Actual Personas may evolve into social roles.

When a person reflects on their possible selves and decides to act on one particular possibility, they activate an Anticipatory Activity System (AAS).

The Anticipatory Activity System framework draws from Activity Theory, Anticipatory System Theory, Relevance Theory, and other theoretical perspectives. It models the structure of “Self, Other, Present, Future.”

An Anticipatory Activity System consists of two parts: First-order Activity and Second-order Activity. For life development, Life Discovery Activities fall under Second-order Activity, while Life Performance Activities fall under First-order Activity.

As a new approach to Activity Theory, the Anticipatory Activity System (AAS) framework provides an abstract model for understanding future-oriented activities. It’s particularly useful in managing creative projects by maintaining a balance between Life Discovery projects and Life Performance projects.

The Microdynamics of Creative Identity


Andy Blunden mentions a project-oriented approach in both psychology and sociology, “A project is a focus for an individual’s motivation, the indispensable vehicle for the exercise of their will and thus the key determinant of their psychology and the process which produces and reproduces the social fabric. Projects, therefore, give direct expression to the identity of the sciences of the mind and the social sciences. Projects belong to both; a project is a concept of both psychology and sociology.” (2014, p.15)

The concept of Life can be understood as both Collective Life and Individual Life. We can use the concept of Project to understand both. A person’s real life is a set of real actions, and the concept of Project is a way of curating these actions. Similarly, Collective Life can also be curated through Projects.

In my work, I’ve often used this idea of Project as a means to test and refine creative identities. The idea of experimenting with projects to explore different facets of identity is central to my approach. Sometimes, you could try a project to test a creative identity. For example, I experimented with the creative identity of a “Theoretical Psychologist.”

On Sept 9, 2023, I applied techniques I learned from theoretical sociologists to run a theoretical integration project about the concept of Mindset. You can find more details in Knowledge Engagement: The Concept of Mindset and Theoretical Integration.

The outcome was fantastic! I developed a Configurational Theory of Mindset and a new meta-framework called the Mental Tuning Framework. See the diagram below.

Am I a Theoretical Psychologist?

The question of whether I am a Theoretical Psychologist is less important than the process I engage in to explore this possibility. In essence, I was experimenting with theoretical integration techniques, which I learned from theoretical sociologists, and applying them to a project focused on curating psychological theories.

On Sept 24, 2023, I used this exercise as an example to test the Persona Dynamics Framework. This framework allows one to experiment with different roles and identities, like that of a Theoretical Psychologist.You can find more details in Advanced Life Strategy: The Microdynamics of Creative Identity.

By applying the Persona—Activity Fit, you can discover and refine your ideal creative identity, much like I did in this project.

Conclusion: Bridging Thematic Curation and Identity Development

In this article, we have explored the concepts of thematic curation and identity building through the lens of the Thematic Identity Curation framework, which is a cornerstone of the Project Engagement Approach (V3.1). This exploration not only introduces a novel perspective on how themes and identities interact within creative projects but also offers practical tools for engaging with these dynamics. From Thematic Curation to Identity Building, we have examined how creative spaces and frameworks can act as catalysts for personal and collective transformation.

Through the case study on The Thematic Blend of Theoretical Integration, we have shown how complex theoretical work can be curated and transformed into actionable creative projects. Furthermore, we explored the importance of creative spaces, the role of Thematic Echo and Thematic Blend, and the ways in which the Persona Dynamics Framework aids in identity discovery.

This approach is an invitation to embrace the power of creativity, reflection, and experimentation in shaping who we are and what we do. As you explore your own creative journey, remember that the process of thematic identity curation can provide valuable insights into the evolving nature of both your identity and the projects you engage with.

Thank you for joining us in this exploration. We encourage you to continue experimenting with these frameworks, share your insights, and keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the World of Activity.

Want to Stay Updated?


Don’t miss the latest updates from the World of Activity series and other insightful articles. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed!

v1.0: 3,924 words - March 8, 2025
v1.1: 4,343 words - March 9, 2025 - Added "Thematic Scrapboard" to the "Thematic Integration" section