How information is transmitted between cells to govern development and tissue homeostasis in time and space remains a central question in biology. In particular, the role of signaling dynamics in this control is still largely unknown. While dynamic signalling has been found in various multicellular model systems, its function and mechanism has mainly been studied in cultures of single cells. We employ a combination of ex vivo and in vitro culture systems with high-resolution imaging of dynamic signalling reporters and microfluidics-based perturbation of signalling dynamics to dissect the function of such dynamics both during embryonic development and adult tissue homeostasis. Here, I will discuss our latest findings on the role of signalling dynamics in the segmenting mouse embryo and homeostasis of the adult small intestine.