Iterative Systems
🧩
Overview
An iterative system develops through repeated passes: each one adding, reshaping, or refining what came before.
Iteration is not repetition. It’s re-engagement with added context. Each pass retains what’s useful, clarifies what’s unclear, and makes room for reinterpretation.
These systems prioritize progression over resolution. Their strength lies in rhythm, not speed. They support recursive structure without demanding closure.
Some iterations introduce friction through deliberate pauses, repeated forms, or layered constraints that reshape interpretation over time.
Recursion describes structure. Iteration describes rhythm.
Related Concepts
- Recursive Structure — iteration enables recursive evolution
- Modular Content — modularity supports meaningful passes
- Friction — iterative pacing can introduce interpretive resistance
- Constraint — constraint supports rhythm by enforcing structure within each pass