Brighton Design Futures Sessions
Overview
An educational workshop applying SiD in a 3-day format at Brighton University's "Design Futures" program. The workshop developed understanding of systemic societal transformation, systems mapping, and leverage point identification.
Setting
- University of Brighton, August 2014
- Cooperation with design theorist Damon Taylor
- Approximately 30 students from diverse degrees (BA Design Futures, BA Graphic Design, BA Business Studies, BA Design and Craft, BA Fashion and Textiles, MA Sustainable Design, BSMS)
- 5 stakeholder groups representing social challenges in Brighton
- Venue: converted basement space
Five Challenge Areas
- Reintegration of homeless persons into functional lifestyles
- Youth abandonment issues
- Elderly disenfranchisement and isolation
- Primary school tablet-based teaching applications
- Design for waste minimization
Three-Part Structure
- One-day primer session -- Discussion of systemic design and social change
- Three-day workshop -- May 15-17th, Brighton Marina, facilitated by Tom Bosschaert
- Dissemination phase -- Publication with reflective pieces and video
Working Method
Groups of 5 created large-scale visual models (approximately 2m × 4m) using the SiD framework. Groups worked on consecutive days in the same space, with self-organized workspace, desk lamps, background music, and shared lunches creating a productive creative environment.
3-Day Schedule
Day 1
SiD introduction, theme allocation, 3 lectures on systems thinking, initial analysis and mapping.
Day 2
Rough prototyping, model production, 2 lectures on leverage points, solution development.
Day 3
Final production, presentations, film screenings, social gathering.
Stakeholders
Hove Park School, Brighton Freegle, The Future Perfect Company, and Brighton DV8.
Outcomes
- 100% attendance across all 5 groups
- Each group produced system solution maps and short narrative videos
- "All groups showed great interest in the process of others"
- Real-world value delivered for participating stakeholders
- Most groups were able to distill a breakthrough solution
Review
"Universally recognized as insightful, educational, and greatly revealing." Areas for improvement identified: venue acoustics, audio recording quality, and group dynamics management in larger sessions.