Claude Lévi-Strauss introduced the concept of bricolage in his 1962 book The Savage Mind, contrasting it with the approach of the engineer.

The Bricoleur vs. The Engineer

• The Bricoleur (Tinkerer): Works with whatever materials, signs, and tools are immediately at hand, repurposing leftover or pre-existing items to solve new problems. They do not start with a master blueprint; instead, they improvise.

• The Engineer: Works with a formal design, specialized tools, and raw materials manufactured specifically for a predetermined goal.