What is Denovation?

Daisugi forestry in Japan – cedars growing from a pruned mother tree

Denovation is a practical philosophy for change that begins by honoring reality. Inspired by the Japanese tradition of Daisugi—a forestry technique developed in the 14th century in Kyoto—it values continuity: adapting and refining what exists, not discarding it for novelty.

Daisugi was created to solve a practical problem: in mountainous regions of Japan, flat land for planting cedar was scarce. Foresters devised a method of pruning a mother cedar tree so that perfectly straight shoots would grow upward from its branches. These shoots could be harvested as timber without ever cutting down the original tree. The result was a sustainable source of high-quality wood, while the centuries-old mother tree continued to thrive.

Unlike approaches that chase the “next big thing,” Denovation starts with today’s real challenges. Where innovation often emphasizes novelty at any cost, and exnovation removes outdated practices without necessarily offering alternatives, Denovation works differently: it preserves what is valuable, adapts what must evolve, and discards only what no longer serves. Its roots lie in the degrowth movement, which advocates wellbeing and sustainability over endless expansion, and in the Lean philosophy, which teaches respect for people, problem-solving at the root cause, and continuous improvement. In this way, Denovation creates progress that is resilient, sustainable, and meaningful—just as Daisugi forestry produced renewal without waste, respecting the living foundation on which it was built.

Why Reality Matters

  • Direct Impact: By focusing on present needs, solutions generate benefits that people can see and measure today. A project that improves how a hospital schedules staff, or how a city manages its water, creates tangible impact long before futuristic visions ever materialize.
  • Accountability: Working with real situations means progress can be evaluated honestly. When results are visible in day-to-day life, leaders and teams cannot hide behind promises or prototypes; they must learn, adapt, and improve continuously.
  • Constraints as Strength: Reality imposes limits—budgets, regulations, cultural traditions, natural boundaries. Denovation treats these not as obstacles, but as creative fuel. Just as Japanese carpenters refined their techniques around scarce cedar land through Daisugi, modern organizations can innovate within constraints, producing leaner, smarter, and more resilient outcomes.
  • Continuity and Trust: People accept change more readily when it is rooted in what they already know and value. By respecting existing systems and heritage, Denovation strengthens trust and builds a culture where progress feels natural rather than imposed.
“Bold futures don’t solve today’s problems. Only by working with what’s real can we drive change that lasts.”

Denovation argues that ignoring reality is the fastest path to fragile solutions. By contrast, grounding change in the present—its people, its context, its limitations—creates resilience. It ensures that progress is not just imagined but embodied, tested, and lived.

How Denovation Works

Denovation is not a formula—it is a disciplined way of working with reality. It takes inspiration from Daisugi, Lean, and Degrowth, transforming these roots into a practical framework for resilient change. Instead of discarding or blindly adding, Denovation adapts what already exists, solves at the source, and builds continuity.

  • Start from What Exists: Assess strengths, heritage, and pain points before acting.
  • Root-Cause Focus: Go beyond symptoms and address the true problem.
  • Continuous Dialogue: Involve those affected, iterate in cycles, and evolve—don’t reset.
  • Evidence-Driven: Test small, learn quickly, scale only what proves effective.
  • Respect for People: Build with practitioners, not on top of them.
  • Pragmatic Sustainability: Value durable outcomes over flashy, short-lived solutions.

HOW : Typology of Denovative Gestures

Drawing on creativity frameworks such as SCAMPER (Eberle, 1971) and SIT (Goldenberg & Mazursky, 1999), Denovation can be expressed through seven practical gestures. Each represents a different way of re-actualizing what already exists:

  • Subtractive: Removing redundant or unnecessary elements.
  • Lightened: Maintaining function while using fewer resources.
  • Re-arranged: Redistributing existing elements to create new performance.
  • Augmentative: Selectively combining the old with the new (e.g., retrofits, hybrid systems).
  • Re-interpretive: Assigning new meaning or function without physical replacement.
  • Encapsulating: Containing risks rather than destroying assets (e.g., asbestos encapsulation).
  • Adaptive: Aligning existing systems with new contexts or requirements.

These gestures show that Denovation is not a single method but a family of practices, all unified by one principle: renewal through re-actualization rather than replacement.

Denovation vs. Innovation vs. Exnovation

— Denovation Incremental Innovation Exnovation
Principle Renewal with respect & reality Gradual efficiency upgrades Remove/ban outdated or unsafe
Approach Work with heritage, adapt systems Improve products/services Discard without adaptation
Outcome Durable, relevant, realistic change Better performance Elimination, loss of legacy

Example: Urban Renewal

Innovation Lab: Designs a futuristic “smart city” with advanced but untested tech.

Denovation: Upgrades an existing city—adapting infrastructure, respecting culture, and solving root causes for immediate and lasting benefits.

Why Switzerland Needs Denovation

Swiss innovation is world-class, yet translating breakthroughs into regulated, multi-stakeholder realities is hard. Denovation delivers change that lasts—rooted in context, tradition, and pragmatic action.

Roots and Influences

  • Japanese Daisugi Forestry: Prune to preserve and renew.
  • Lean Management & TPS: Respect and continuous improvement.
  • Degrowth Principles: Wellbeing and sustainability over endless novelty.

Get Involved

  • Join the Network: Practitioners, thinkers, organizations—build resilient progress together.
  • Newsletter: Case studies, events, and practical tools.
  • Workshops: Denovation in action, tailored for your sector.
  • Contact: info@denovation.ch

References

Parrique, T. – Defining Degrowth · Daisugi forestry resources · Lean Management & TPS frameworks · Swiss innovation studies