**
The Patchwork Model**
a 20-Year-Old Solution to
Modern Governance Challenges
Dear Sirs of Arbitrum Foundation,
I’m reaching out to share a governance model conceived in 2005 that addresses a problem decentralized communities face today: how to move from scattered discussion to coherent collective decision-making.
The Problem
Twenty years ago, I observed that mailing lists and forums enabled rich discussion but lacked a critical element—a visual, interactive decision-making layer. Conversations flowed endlessly without transforming into concrete collective action. Today, DAOs and decentralized communities face the same challenge: voting fatigue, low participation, weak consensus, and decisions that pass by slim margins without genuine agreement.
The Patchwork Model
The Patchwork Model is a visual deliberation system where:
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Every member appears as a colored square in a dynamic “patchwork”
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Green = favorable
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Red = contrary
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Yellow = abstained
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White = considering
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Click any square to see that person’s reasoning and start a dialogue
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Watch the community evolve as peer-to-peer interaction transforms the pattern from chaotic disagreement to harmonious consensus
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Decisions emerge not from vote-counting but from genuine convergence through understanding
This isn’t voting. It’s visual deliberation that builds strong agreement, not weak consensus.
Why This Matters for Your Decentralized Organization
The Patchwork Model addresses key governance challenges:
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Increases participation through gamification and social visibility
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Builds stronger consensus by facilitating direct member-to-member dialogue
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Creates transparency where every position and its evolution is visible
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Reduces governance fatigue by making deliberation engaging rather than tedious
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Prevents plutocracy through equal representation (one person = one square)
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Preserves nuance that binary yes/no voting destroys
The Vision
In my original writings from 2005, I imagined digital agoras where groups could transform from discordant collections into coherent, powerful actors for social change. I wrote about communities needing not just discussion tools, but tools for the moment of decision that transforms simple exchange of views into something important. Twenty years later, DAOs are those digital agoras. You are building the future of collective coordination. The Patchwork Model could be the infrastructure that makes coordination truly democratic and deeply human.
About Me
I’m 72, I programmed DEC PDP-8 computers in assembly 50 years ago, as soon as I had access to the Internet, I began an in-depth sociopolitical analysis and conceived several projects. The Patchwork Model is one of them. I’ve spent my life developing ideas for genuine democracy—not as a career, but as a calling.
What I’m Offering
I welcome the opportunity to:
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Present the model to your governance team or community
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Discuss pilot implementation for specific governance processes
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Collaborate on adapting TPM to your organization’s needs
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Explore integration or partnership possibilities
I’m not a venture capitalist or corporate entity, only a dreamer. If your organization is serious about governance innovation beyond token-weighted voting, I believe we should talk.
Documentation
Full concept and 20-year history: https://hyperlinker.altervista.org/patchwork/
A single image (see below) shows the essence of the model. Static and dynamic demos are available.
With respect and hope for our collective future,
Danilo D’Antonio
Laboratorio Eudemonia
Val Vibrata, Teramo, Italy
Email: danilo.dantonio@outlook.com
Website: https://hyperlinker.altervista.org/patchwork/
Some notes on me: http://dda.hyperlinker.org
