ARCO Framework
The town of Arco is located north of Lake Garda in Italy. The rocky faces that surround the town are a real paradise for free climbing lovers, that’s why the city is also known as the country of sportive climbers.
For Zettelkasten users ARCO is also an acronym that stands for:
- Atlas: Book of maps [1].
- Reference: Book of facts and external links.
- Calendar: Book of events.
- Organizer: Book of tasks and projects.
These books are basic entry points for my Zettelkasten. With only three steps in the example you will find a relevant “Map of Content (MOC)” within the “5_Structure Notes”, the related idea from your “3_Permanent Notes” and a link to the sources in your “4_Reference Notes”. It’s a visual example for a simple rule:
Use folders to structure process, not content.
By applying Dieter Ram’s “Ten Principles for Good Design”[2], it contributes to improving “usefulness”. A Zettelkasten should serve its purpose effectively. Ensure that your system is designed to be practical and useful in helping you organize and retrieve information. The design should prioritize utility over unnecessary complexity.
Here’s a screenshot from my iPhone:
References
[1] @nickmilo: The Ultimate Folder System: A quixotic journey to ACE
[2] What is “Good” Design? A quick look at Dieter Rams’ Ten Principles. - Design Museum