What am I up to?...

I have an article phobia. Blank canvases send me into a bit of a tailspin. So this is written in the spirit of ‘Captain Splurge’ ( The Literacy Pirates technique of writing quickly without editing to get out the rough first draft…). I can refine it later, so forgive the typos.

TBH, this isn’t really an article, more of a brain dump of stuff to help me make sense of what I’m up to in the gaps between work, the loose thoughts when walking, and the hours here or there spent reading, listening and watching. But I also hope that it will help you with some ideas and inspiration, but also prompt further suggestions to send me down more rabbit holes.

So, I present, my list of what I am reading/watching/listening recently + communities I’m a part of.

Prelude

• I am currently exploring WTF is systems change, complexity, systems thinking etc. This was prompted by Phil Hesketh circa 2017 when I was talking to him about service design and told me to look at “systems thinking”, so it’s totally his fault I am still in this space, but equally with an immense amount of gratitude for planting a seed that continues to bear fruit.
• This was shunted along by my reading of Chapter 4 of Doughnut Economics ‘Getting savvy with Systems’. I still remember sat in Greenwich Park with a notepad and colourful pens sketching out Kate Raworth's rundown of Donella Meadows’ Thinking in Systems and having to read, re-read and re-read it. It was eye-opening and led to me reading Meadows’ book although TBH I need to re-read it.
• This exploration has accelerated since I joined B Lab UK and continue to ponder on the mission statement: the vision of an economic system that is regenerative, inclusive and equitable. This has become a mantra somewhat, which guides my approach and thinking. It comes with some tough questions about achievability, practice and belonging. It also creates another question that bounces in my head: WTF does regenerative mean?
• I have barely scraped the surface of systems and regeneration and find that a lot of what I consume, immediately leaks out of my head and into the ether. So I still continue to struggle to give a coherent idea and response to these questions. I suspect, as ever, I am being a little bit hard on myself and some stuff is sticking and changing; in much the same way that you look in a mirror and see the same face, but compare it to an older photo and can definitely see the starker evolution and development.?
• In these explorations, I think a few things are important:?
• Make the time to read, watch and listen. Be kind to yourself if things don’t stick. I really believe that some of this work is not just about working at a surface level, but digging deeper, uprooting, unlearning, checking and challenging. It’s a practice, it’s being, it’s exercise, it’s a journey with no end.?
• Making time to walk and think and doing creative work. These meditative-style practices are helpful to distill thoughts. I don’t do this enough, but when I do it’s great. Oddly, I have some of my best ideas walking along the Blackwall Tunnel Approach towards Bromley by Bow(?!)…?
• Share. Practice reciprocity and openness. Every other Friday at 8:30am I have an open slot for anyone to come and talk to me about anything. It’s an enriching experience and I’m grateful to those who make the time to say hello.?
• Community. Community. Community. Find your tribes, those people who you can explore with. I am ever grateful for those convenors out there, some of whom are listed below.?

What am I reading/watching/listening/communiting??

The current trends guiding these explorations are around challenging the existing paradigms and entrenched thinking around consumerism, economics models and philosophies of the economic and political systems. So topics such as regeneration, degrowth, citizenship, power, preparedness and practically the process of hospicing and letting go of existing ways of being that are extractive.?

I am also interested in design and learning more about ways of approaching design that centre people and the planet. So areas like nature-based approaches, circularity and design justice.?

There is also a practical exploration around sense-making, complex adaptive systems and approaches to service and product development. The work of Dave Snowden and Cynefin has been a fixture for me, but a lot more work to be done. I am also trying to grapple with Wardley Mapping, but again surface-scratching.?

Finally, service design and facilitation, and especially around doing community engagement properly.?

Reading

Current/recent:

• Less is More - Jason Hickel ?
• Hospicing Modernity - Vanessa Machado De Oliveira
• Citizens - Jon Alexander?
• Combining - Nora Bateson
• Managing complexity (and chaos) in times of crisis - an EU Field Guide
• At Work in the Ruins? - Dougald Hine?
• Design Justice - Sash Costanza-Chock
• The Cynefin blog?
• The Emergent Futures Lab Newsletter ?

Watching

• Simon Wardley - Wardley Maps
• Dave Snowden - Cynefin?
• Degrowth vs Green Growth?

Listening

• An Atlas of Es Devlin?- Polyphonia
• The Wisdom and Action Podcast - ft Nora Bateson
• Leading by Nature - ft Laura Storm
• The Sacred - ft Dougald Hine
• Be More Pirate - ft Jon Alexander
• On the Edge - ft Jeremy Lent

Communities

• Design Education
• Regenerative Design Community
• Design Justice North node (no link to the northern node yet, but feel free to reach out if interested!)
• Solvers led by Carl Quinn?
• Year Here?
• Design Declares?
• Doughnut Economics Action Lab?

*I’ve probably forgotten some stuff, so will update as my memory gets round to it.

So there you have it. I hope this is helpful for now. As ever, reach out if you want to chat some more plus also feel free to add your suggestion and add to my mega list!