- Creating a successful project, writing a book, an article, a discovery in science - it often requires using ideas from different disciplines. This is not just a trendy trend, but an important principle underlying innovation. From combining mathematics and art to mixing sociology and engineering - all these combinations produce unexpected and powerful results.

- Niklas Luhmann’s Zettelkasten methodology vividly demonstrates the power of this approach. It was built on the concept of linking notes from different fields of knowledge. Luhmann claimed that unpredictable and seemingly incomprehensible connections between notes led him to create something new. His own system allowed him to write more than 70 books and hundreds of articles because it stimulated interdisciplinary thinking.

Why is linking notes from different disciplines so important?

1. Ideas at the intersection of fields

In the history of science and art, the most significant breakthroughs often occurred at the intersection of different disciplines. For example:

  • Leonardo da Vinci combined anatomy and mechanics for his inventions.
  • Steve Jobs called the combination of technology and the humanities the key to Apple's success.
  • James Watson and Francis Crick created a model of DNA by integrating physics, chemistry, and biology.

2. Creating a new perspective

When you see the same problem through the prism of different fields, it ceases to be unsolvable. For example, a designer can find inspiration in architecture, and a programmer in philosophy.

3. Accelerating innovation

Connecting notes from different disciplines creates a synergistic effect. Each note is not just a block of information, but an active node that begins to work in conjunction with others and generate new ideas.

Putting this into practice with notes

To implement this approach into your knowledge management, it is important to:

1. Link notes through key topics and contexts.

Don’t limit yourself to one area. For example, if you are studying biology and marketing, consider how biological principles can be applied to consumer behavior.

2. Create active links between notes.

Note-taking apps like Conoted let you link one note to several others, indicating why they are related.

3. Use old notes.

Revisit archives. Often, old ideas can suddenly take on new meaning when applied to a different context.

Example: From idea to project

Let’s say you are working on a healthcare startup. You have notes on medicine, psychology, and technology. By combining them, you can create:

  • An application for tracking the emotional state of patients (medicine + psychology).
  • A smart device for preventing injuries based on the analysis of movement data (technology + biomechanics).

Conclusion

An interdisciplinary approach and the use of note management tools open up enormous opportunities for creativity and progress. By connecting knowledge from different disciplines, we not only create a deeper understanding of the world, but also form the basis for new ideas that can change the future.

Use this principle in your work, as Luhmann did, and create projects that connect knowledge, inspire and move forward!