Impact is the ultimate outcome for any social change initiative yet it’s also the most elusive and poorly defined of our evaluation metrics in practice. How do we change this? In this first post in a series, I bring us into the world of understanding impact. Non-profits are in the business of making a positive difference in spaces that are ignored or neglected by other institutions society. Whether it’s a lack of governmental support, business investment, or shared infrastructure, non-profits work to fill those gaps through channeling social enterprise and innovation, charity, community mobil ..read more

A modern, global culture supported by technology has disconnected us from the rhythms of the natural world. The winter solstice reminds us of them. I’m writing this in that liminal space of the calendar between Christmas and New Years. It’s just after the winter solstice when things are the darkest in my part of the world and often the greyest. This year is no different, except for it being an El Niño year amplified by climate change which translates into a wet, green holiday season instead of one that looks closer to the picture above. I’m writing this from the Northern Hemisphere so keep th ..read more

Welcome to the Censemaking Methods Series where today we look at how to apply principles to guiding evaluation and strategy. This builds on our previous lessons on Principles-Focused Evaluation and the building blocks that underpin the approach. What are principles and why do they matter? Principles are anchors between values and strategy that allow for decision-making in turbulent times. They are your guides when confronted with uncertainty that connect your values to actions in a manner that points you toward your ‘true North’ when you are disoriented. In this post, we’ll look at how t ..read more

In this latest in the Censemaking Methods Series we look at the Prototype Death Rate, a metric for assessing innovation productivity. When an idea has matured enough in our design process, it’s time to create a prototype. This is a tangible or digital ‘mock-up’ of the concept that serves as its first real-world representation. Before launching the final version, a prototype allows us to scrutinize its functionality, identify bugs or flaws, and understand its strengths and shortcomings. It also allows us to find out what’s working, what’s needed, and where the design isn’t meeting needs. A key ..read more

The shift in seasons or a new page on the calendar can be an ideal moment to instigate change. The Fresh Start Effect demonstrates that you can engineer opportunities for transformation at any time — simply harness the power of your calendar. “The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now”  The Internet (many wise people) The quote above underscores two fundamental truths about initiating change: There’s always an opportunity for a fresh beginning, and taking that first step is crucial to achieving long-term success. When considering transformative actions ..read more

our Censemaking Methods Series continues with a focus on helping your visual thinking practice by introducing the simple Sketchnote and how it can help transform your team’s understanding of systems. Diagrams have a unique way of breaking down the complexity of systems, don’t they? Imagine a tool that lets everyone see and understand a concept from the same viewpoint. Sounds exciting, but is it possible without a lot of training? When we try to map out a product or service ecosystem, it might sometimes feel like a maze. After all, there’s an entire realm of practice dedicated to systemic ..read more

What happens when the AI-powered algorithms take what was once a peer-to-peer network and turn it into an AI arms race? Cory Doctorow has coined the term enshitification to describe the ways in which many large electronic media platforms from Google to Facebook to (now-called) X and others. He’s speaking to that feeling that I have and hear from others: the Internet isn’t what it used to be. Tools like Google are far more likely to serve up ads of vaguely related products to whatever search I’m doing than quality search results. Instagram and Facebook have found new ways to serve up ads or tr ..read more

In this latest in our Censemaking Methods Series we turn our focus toward applying design to generating impact through better events and gatherings. Crafting an unforgettable gathering is an alchemy of art and science. Through intentional design, we can learn from service design From board retreats, annual general meetings, to brainstorming sessions, a stellar event emerges from thoughtful design. This design integrates the essence of both the art and method, cultivating experiences that transcend one-to-one encounters. This is why we gather in the first place. The Event as a Service Instead ..read more

When we talk about complexity, what does it mean? I’ll peek at an everyday phenomenon to illustrate why things are far more complex and complicated than they used to be. The term complexity is used a lot to describe social life, institutions, and the state of the world, but what does it really look like? I’ve used the term many times and often with examples that risk alienating readers because of their size and scope. (Sorry for that). I will use the example of working from home / remote work to illustrate what complexity can look like and how what goes on in our neighbourhoods is a product o ..read more

Learning takes our exposure to new things and transforms our thoughts and actions. How we do this is – and whether its done well — is where design comes in. Our learning is framed by where we are and where we want to go. The volume of content available to people puts attention at a premium, so we are more likely to pay attention to things that are relevant and fit our identity and our planned future. This is where leadership comes in. Leaders focus people’s attention on a direction and help them get there from here. It’s the connective tissue between where we are where we’re going. Leadership ..read more