[VIDEO] Lead the Change: What is the future of Qualitative Research and Ethnography?

This past July I was asked to add my perspective (touching on ecological and social responsibility) to a panel about the future of Research and User Experience Design (Qualitative and Ethnography) at the Lead the Change Summit by Mind Spark Research International. It was a super interesting discussion which ended up touching on, social and environmental responsibility, cultural factors, systems thinking, change management and adaption to ever unstable contexts.

Hats off to the organizers, including our moderator Alicia Dornadic, whose diverse voice panel selection and open/participative format created fertile ground for such a conversation. Also, big thanks to my fellow panelists: Harini Karthik (Google), Kristoffer Mago (Shopee) and Raissa Smarasista (Skyscanner).

Full video below. Please comment with any questions or inspirations you may have.

Circular Strategies – Free Online Workshop Template

Circular Design and Circular Economy is an enlarging of scope and possibilities. It is to look at the complete life cycle of the product (or service) and optimize it’s value to design out waste, from the beginning. What would have become waste becomes value. In testing this methodology, I attest, this constraint to not let anything go to waste does not limit but instead fuels innovation and collaboration ideas. Read more about Circular Design and Design Thinking here.

Interested to test out circular design strategies?

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation is a leader in the circular economy field. They partnered with IDEO to create a Circular Design Guide. This guide includes a kit with several outlined workshops. I chose to create a free Mural template for the workshop they created called “Circular Strategies.” I did this in hopes to make it more accessible for those currently working at a distance and further help the transition towards the circular economy. Before use please check out their legal terms to ensure you are in compliance (aka do not resell). Enjoy!

Guide to get started

Objective: Explore and learn various circular economy strategies by co-designing a new product or service of a well known industry. Some options are provided, but this workshop could work for any product or service.

Audience: Anyone! Diverse professions and backgrounds, is a perk. This could be for one company or a multi-company workshop.

Timing: Minimal timing an hour (times indicated in template, per section). But an hour and a half is ideal in order to allow a complete discussion, digestion and projection to daily activities.

  1. Click on “Get Started from Template” button below.
  2. Create an account or log onto Mural. Need help? Here is the Mural get started and usage guide.
  3. Read the yellow and orange notices which explain how to use the template and deploy the workshop. This includes reading the original instructions for the workshop on CircularDesignGuide.com.
  4. Enjoy.

[Template] Circular Strategies Workshop – Ellen MacArthur Foundation + IDEO Template by MURAL

Open to create a mural from this template in your workspace. Powered by MURAL

Did you use the template or have you experimented with another circular design workshop format? I would love to have your feedback. Do not hesitate to comment below or contact me.

Do you have the Green Mindset?

Becoming a more socially or ecologically responsible person or business is above all a mindset change. Much like agile and digital transformations that came before…. There is a difference between doing and being. Only those who “embody” the change go on to self-feed and sustain the change. Versus those who do superficial changes or cookie-cutter framework stacking that just complexifies the system or fizzles out.

But often you have to mechanically do a bit to experience and understand the benefits. This lived understanding helps you move to “being.” Much like meditation, yoga or any exercise, you do a series of exercises to build your muscles and concentration towards a objective, whole-heatedly embracing what you want to change. You do it often very “badly” for a long time. Then, one day, voila, you are “there” or at least, more there. It becomes second nature: a change in mindset. This mindset promotes further progress thanks to a new perception and set of motivations.

Also doing it on a beach cannot hurt. Image by DanaTentis.


What does this mindset or culture change look like?

I will write this from a business prospective but with some imagination you could easily read this from a personal approach. Honestly this mindset will leak from personal to pro and visa versa once you really have the mental shift.

Here are some examples, certainly not exhaustive. I am also growing my mindset and understanding! Please share with me your own ideas with a comment.

  1. Life-cycle approach – You do not think of JUST your product. Or even just the use of the product. But the sourcing, construction, maintenance and end of life of your product. And the local systems it touches including your providers.
  2. Circular thinking vs linear. – You do not stop at the end but see how this integrates back into the system and self-feeds. This includes when you experiment and fail. How do you rebound and learn?
  3. Mindfulness of Resources: You see the true “cost” and “value” around you. – You “use every part of the animal.” Example: When your business receives their shipment of materials you already know what you will do with the packaging to give it a second life (in the case where packaging is unavoidable). You start seeing everything touched as a resource and asset to be protected and fully utilized/curated and ensured it can be cycled back for reuse. Zero waste (only “food”) and even more opportunity to make the most of everything you have.
  4. Money is not your only measure nor end objective – In fact, money moves more to the background as a means to support the real reason and sense your business has taken on. You start measuring with other “capital” such as social relations, environmental resources and local connections strength.
  5. You are liberated from growth mindset and see value in frugality. – Some of the changes needed will require scaling back or staying the same. But you no longer see this as a constraint but a boost. Not only can you create long lasting assets but you no longer burn out chasing growth. In fact, you start to leave the system, no longer seeing things as “gains” and “losses.”
  6. You are more in touch with your customers needs as you go beyond just selling to them. You avoid creating artificial needs. – You think of your clients and your company’s mission or “why” every day and with every action. Your clients permeate every particle of your businesses’s being. You constantly question and project the possible impact of your actions. You even ask: What would happen if this product or new service did not exist? Are my clients or the the world better off or even just the same? Am I creating an artificial need? If so, then it does not appeal to you and you return to the drawing board. But to do all this you must actually partner and get to know your customer and local ecosystem. #booSolutionism
  7. You think local and it is one of your biggest assets. – Your first instinct is to see who close-by you can work with or collaborate with in a self-feeding cycle. You find yourself more going out and meeting people vs marketing to the masses. Your best partnerships are through word of mouth and you believe it.
  8. You think local but still ensure that it does not have global effects. – You ensure the health of the full system and not just locally. In addition, you believe good inspiration comes from all levels. Switching between local and global thinking (systems thinking) becomes second nature for you.
  9. You care for your internal environment just as much as the climate. – Whether it is your personal “ecology” or that of your collaborators. You know that how you treat others and yourself ripples outward. To you, it is no surprise that some of the most advanced eco-responsible companies are also kind employers and “enlightened” host leaders.
  10. Cooperation over competition: You constantly seek collaboration within and outside your business. – You recognize that often the best ideas come from collective intelligence. And you have seen proof and understand the strength of multiple voices tackling a complex system from various angles (with moments of convergence/collaboration.)
  11. You see power and resilience in diversity. – You do not seek to be surrounded by only those that think and act like you. In fact you actively seek to not stay complacent and ensure you have collaborators who may have similar values and goals but different backgrounds and ways of thinking and doing.
  12. You see constraint as a creative problem-solving opportunity that gives you many gifts. – Constraint can liberate us by channeling our energies. The constraint of being eco and social responsible means potentially: less waste, more fun figuring things out, and in the end more attractive, fully thought out solutions. This excites you. You are more proud and empowered than ever before. You take advantage of the full experience and process rather than folding to comfort and convenience.
  13. Small and slow is beautiful. -Rome was not built in a day nor is it desired to even build another Rome! Perhaps sometimes it calls for it… but not every time. Also some things cannot be rushed, as much as we may like it. You have come to understand this aspect of life and it’s circular nature.
  14. And for better or worse: It is hard to go back to the old system! – You have seen the benefit of the green mindset and it is your “now” preferred future.

What else? Comment below.

Green and strong! Image by ErikaWittlieb.

What is circular design? Questions to test and inspire yourself at work and at home.

What is circular design? It is taking into account the full life cycle of an object or service to ensure all “waste” is removed and instead is value. It is a self-feeding holistic system and can be certainly used in business but also in our reflections when we buy/consume at home.

Here are some notes from a recent training I did in it, specifically, circular design thinking. Thank you Klap.io and trainers Mélanie, France, Thibaud, Vincent & my team collaborators.

Here Mélanie explains, in order of importance, some tactics & inspirations for creating more resource respectful products.

1. Can we reduce usage of a resource (including energy & materials)? Or even cut out an entire product?!
2. Are we ensuring that the product is reparable? Or can we repair something existing, eliminating new need?
3. Can we reuse something already existing? Or use one item/resource for multiple uses? Or without changing it’s form when no longer “usable” for one function can it be used elsewhere, prolonging its value & our assets?
4. Upcycle or Refabricate: Can it be slightly modified for another use?
5. Recycle – Are we ensuring as a last case scenario the product or the bi-products created can be recycled for reuse in new items?

Design Thinking… but circular? What is the difference?

For those who already know design thinking, Circular Design Thinking is quite similar but with more parameters to test and inspire from. It is also an often more longer process as you drill down and test the product versus various needs in the “system”. In my opinion, it makes Design Thinking even more robust and realistic as it respects real constraints and even uses them as a source of inspiration (constraints in the end can also liberate your creative juices). It’s edict:

No waste… only food/value!

Also one big difference is the principal “persona.” Circular Design thinking is not just looking at the “persona” or client’s problem but putting the Planet and Society as a whole at the heart of the problem solving. Our starting and principle persona: a planet with limited resources to be used wisely to the benefit of all.

And you?

Anyone else I know who does circular design and circular design thinking or want to learn it? Can you see using these questions in your personal life?