A mixtape of digital strategy, UX and design from the bears at PandA.

Design for innovation & social impact

NESTA head sherang Geoff Mulgan, inventor of the social impact bond, is in Australia at the moment doing the rounds and talking about design for social impact.  This diagram is one he uses to articulate the pathway to social innovation. 

Innovation is sometimes written about as an almost magical process. But it is wrong to see innovation as a mystery. It is true that innovation is rarely simple or predictable, but looking closely at what actually happens, it is also true that the overall innovation process is structured and systematic.
 
Although every real innovation is a complex story of loops and jumps, there are various stages that most innovations pass through. This framework is useful for understanding how to put ideas to work, and focusing on the different methods, and different mindset, needed at each stage.

» diytoolkit.org/background/

+ geoff_mulgan_-_ideas.pdf

The current spending squeeze in the UK means that there is more interest than ever, both in tools to achieve greater value, and ones that can tap new sources of finance for social goals.

+ /social-impact-investment-the-opportunity-and-challenge-of-social-impact-bonds/

Te Papa, a cultural enterprise incubator

Te Papa is embarking on a programme of renewal that will, among other things, re-look at the purpose of a museum and its potential to involve, inspire and catalyse its users and communities to become agents of change. In this context, Te Papa is starting up an incubator to give entrepreneurs a platform for digital and experiential product innovation in the culture sector. A start-up itself, over the next year it will be learning its way to ‘product/market fit’. This is a chance to find out more about what’s planned, and feed your voice into the process.

» thedigitalmuseum.tumblr.com/post/131956225559/melissa-firth-te-papas-innovation-hub-an

+ but sometimes labs are just about gratification... Innovation labs: they’re all about the show, not the performance (ie: don't be one of those)

+ Top 6 Predictions for Service Design in 2016

Storytelling for impact

Purpose stories

Unilever's Lifebuoy has a social impact program to bring safe water to communities in need. Video narratives were wrapped around that purpose-led work, in a way that deeply affected some viewers – real tearjerkers. The early videos though felt slightly staged, which is why perhaps this latest one aims for a more authentic feel.  

» Latest: youtube.com/watch?v=VsnP_6kdtDY + their original video

+ MasterFoods' campaign Who would you most like to have dinner with?

+ Western Sydney University's Deng Thiak Adut story – which has cast WSU in a whole new light

+ For kicks, Mumbrella's best ads of 2015

Lee Lewis interview

In Out The Front Nº 10 release last week we interviewed Lee Lewis, Artistic Director of Griffin Theatre Company and one of our leading story-makers.

"Choosing a play for Griffin is a combination of urgency, that it has to happen now, and a feeling that if I don’t, if Griffin doesn’t do this play, this play won’t happen."

» Lee Lewis interview

New post on storytelling from our content strategist Fiona Wright. 

Storytelling stimulates our brains in ways that emulate a direct experience of what we encounter in a narrative.

» Storytelling for sense, dollars and cortisol

Measure twice, cut once

The calligraphic decoration on this 10th century Persian bowl says, in part, “Planning before work protects you from regret.” "The shortening, bending, and elongation of the letters has transformed the words into abstract motifs of tremendous power." 

» Bowl with Arabic Inscription | The Metropolitan Museum of Art

via @sreetips

Somehow more engaging than the PMBOK.

+ The Met explains its new identity 

Photographer Nicolas Bouvier Shoots Figures in Silhouette Against Mysterious and Foreboding Landscapes

» thisiscolossal.com/2016/02/nicolas-bouvier-silhouettes/

Lego Star Wars Returns to Hoth With This Amazing Playset

» lego.gizmodo.com

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kfxbai

A note on the design change

For 2016 I've upgraded email templates. They encourage tinkering, so, well, I'm doing that. While less compact, this design will be better behaved on mobile. It might hop around while I get my eye in, but calm will soon prevail, I promise. 

Masthead

This is Nº34 of the PandA Finds newsletter, sent on Friday, 26 February 2016.

PandA Finds topics include digital strategy, user experience and service design plus program and content for outreach and engagement, brand and shared value, hints, tips, tricks and who'da'thunkits – with a focus on business, cultural or social impact.

Generally this is a monthly blend. If I'm feeling frisky it’s fortnightly. Sometimes I take a couple of months off for the heck of it.

Best wishes,
Adrian

Adrian Wiggins
adrian@pureandapplied.net
0412 469 309

Director
Pure and Applied Pty Ltd

Service Design • Digital Strategy • User Experience