There’s a process I use for problem-solving that I call “scientifically throwing spaghetti on the wall.”
It’s a twist on the old saying:
“Throw spaghetti on the wall. See what sticks.”
Except now it comes with a metaphorical clipboard, goggles, and a notebook. Because if you write things down while you do it, it’s not chaos — it’s science!
Science
The notes from these spaghetti sessions aren’t formal in the slightest. In fact, they’re almost deliberately informal. They don’t show up as polished 1-pager RFCs needing a gallery of reviewers to sign off. They show up as Loom videos dropped into Slack. A quick “what happened, why it matters, what’s next.” Closer to a social post than a spec doc.
Why? If I had to distill it down to one word: speed.
When I’m in Spaghetti mode, I can crank out 5–10 of these in a day — each one a little demo, a walkthrough, or a proof-of-concept. They’re not here to replace the PRD or the technical spec. They’re the work before the work. The messy exploration stage, shared openly and intentionally in a kind of open-source way.
I’m paying attention the whole time. To red flags someone raises. To which posts get fire emojis, and which ones don’t. I might be hyped about an idea — but if it gets silence, I shelve it. “Cool, but not now. Maybe someday.” Move on.
This process of scientific spaghetti throwing should be short. Yes, it’s fun to wander in the greenfield, fully unleashed in “let’s see what happens” mode. But the job isn’t to stay here. The job is to deliver a solution.
Spaghetti mode is a guest pass — good for days, not weeks. Hours, not days.
The value isn’t in perfecting; it’s in surfacing. Every quick demo, every messy share, helps shape an opinion of what the thing really should be. And by the time a formal doc finally exists (if it’s even needed), the team, stakeholders, and curious onlookers have already been along for the ride.
Mess
Now, before you suit up in your metaphorical lab coat, let me give you the "keep your hands, arms, and feet inside the ride at all times" safety announcement:
(Let me say that again.)
Yes. You. Will. Make. A. Mess.
This is the part that scares people. I’ve seen it. Folks tiptoe around like they’re walking on eggshells, terrified to spill anything. They move carefully, neatly, quietly… straight down the first path they see.
And sure, they arrive clean. But often at the wrong destination. Because the right path? It’s usually the 20th one over. And you only find it by “noping” out of the 19 dead ends first.
I remember a time in a previous job when I was an “eggshell walker.” I only showed a design once it was spotless. I believed any mess — even a tiny one — was proof I wasn’t good enough as a Designer. So I overcompensated with polish.
The results? Fine. They worked. But they always needed rounds of iteration, and I knew we could’ve gotten there faster — and cleaner — if I’d just let people in earlier. If I’d shown the splatter instead of hiding it.
That’s the lesson I carry now: mess isn’t shame. Mess is not the enemy. Mess is the breadcrumb trail. Mess is the map you didn’t know you were drawing.
And let’s be clear: “mess” doesn’t mean setting your kitchen on fire (aka, nuking production). Mess is a blob of sauce on the counter. A dusting of flour on your shirt. Annoying, but totally clean-up-able. Situations met with eye rolls, groans, and sighs... not 911 calls.
Sooner or later, you’ll tidy. And it’ll be fine.
Don’t go around making a mess on purpose. Don’t just toss bread on the floor for no reason other than wasting perfectly good bread. Mess is the by-product of figuring things out. And tidying? That’s just the natural by-product of mess.
Do your wild experiments in sandboxes. Keep the production files clean. But don’t be afraid to let the sauce splatter. A messy counter that leads to dinner is far better than a spotless kitchen with nothing to eat.
Because that little splatter? That’s proof you’re cooking. Proof you’re moving. It means you’re trying, testing, tasting, and figuring it out.
Progress is messy.
And progress is the point.
Welcome
(Bing bong)
(Pre-recorded voice over the PA system)
Welcome to the world of Scientific Spaghetti.
Here’s your 3-day all-access badge to our facilities.
To the right, you’ll find Figma Land for all your design needs. To the left, Code Zone, where you can dive into the data and logic to make magic happen.
You’ll be issued:
- A standard-issue lab coat
- A 5.5x8.5 journal notebook
- A pen
- An all-inclusive meal card for complimentary snacks and beverages
Although uncommon, guest passes may be extended based on your findings.
As you tinker through our facilities, you are required to share your findings with the research team at least once every 24 hours. Photos and videos are optional, but highly encouraged.
Failure to comply means your guest pass will be immediately revoked, and you will be escorted from the premises.
And while you’re here, remember: spaghetti is not a vacation. You’re still expected to engage with your usual work activities.
Now get out there. Have fun.
Throw some spaghetti and see what sticks!