Design doesn’t happen inside a vacuum. It happens inside teams, inside the context of relationships, inside physical spaces, inside organizations with very particular cultures. Ignore that intricate ecosystem, and you might as well give your project a death sentence. In this talk, Teresa and Kate draw from their experience bringing this holistic outlook to the design process. Pulling from methods used in filmmaking, fine art, design research, facilitation, improv, and UX design, they craft “intentional environments” for their teams and clients. These literal and figurative environments cultivate work that is actionable, co-created, co-owned, and much more likely to succeed in the world. They discuss the benefits of intentional environments and walk you through how to design them and methods for keeping them activated throughout the design process. You’ll walk away understanding how to cultivate intentionality, co-create without compromising output, and inspire teams and clients along the way. But more importantly, you’ll have a powerful new framework that will enrich your entire design process.

2. surroundings
or conditions

3. “We shape our tools and thereafter
our tools shape us.”
Marshall McLuhan

4. SGLibrary http://www.flickr.com/photos/sglibrary/5499883074/sizes/l/in/photostream/ Source: Flickr, Monicaʼs Dad

5. SGLibrary http://www.flickr.com/photos/sglibrary/5499883074/sizes/l/in/photostream/
Source: Flickr, Voka - Kamer van Koophandel Limburg

6. Source: Flickr, Jokigen

7. Intentional environment

8. UX happens

9. UX happens
(whether you design it or not)

10. Environment happens
(whether you design it or not)

11. Setting up the conditions
that foster great work

13. "What we can do is construct an
environment that nurtures trusting
and respectful relationships and
unleashes everyone’s creativity.”
Ed Catmull, President
Walt Disney Animation Studios & Pixar Animation Studios

14. Designing an
intentional
environment

15. Intentional environments in 4 simple steps

16. Intentional environments in 4 simple steps
1 Declare your intent

17. Intentional environments in 4 simple steps
1 Declare your intent
2 Take actions based
you on that intent

18. Intentional environments in 4 simple steps
team
1 Declare your intent
team
2 Take actions based
team you team on that intent
team team 3 Activate the environment
for others

19. Intentional environments in 4 simple steps
team
1 Declare your intent
team
2 Take actions based
team you team on that intent
team team 3 Activate the environment
for others
4 Repeat for every project

20. Reflect the unique players and
circumstances of each project
Reflect the unique players and circumstances
Source: Flickr Opposite of Super

21. Clear the deck so people can participate in a new way

22. Show respect & care for the people in the environment
Source: Flickr SerenityRose

23. Principles & Practices

24. Pixar
Principle: It must be safe
for everyone to offer ideas
Practice: Work-in-
progress is shown to the
entire crew for crit

25. Improv
Principle: Build upon ideas
Practice: “Yes, and...”
Source: Flickr, Mild Mannered Photographer

26. Adaptive Path
Principle: Have mutual
respect for each other’s
point of view
Practice: 5 minute
madness

27. Rail Europe
Principle: One big team
Practice: Find ways to
celebrate our clients

28. Anyone can activate an environment
Source: Flickr, LaughingRhoda

29. Now YOU!

30. Think back to something wonderful that
happened to you on a project.
(Something that you’d like to see happen again.)

31. Think back to something wonderful that
happened to you on a project.
(Something that you’d like to see happen again.)
What conditions made that wonderful thing
possible?

32. Now, jot down a principle that
could enable it to happen.
practice
pri nciple r
y or behavio
An activit t
that serve
s le can do tha
nt
A stateme tion for a that peop ive
p rinciple al
as the fou
nda brings the visible.
r s it
behavior o and make
system of
belief. we do?
ie: What can
ent?
ie: Wha t’s the int

33. Now, write down a practice that you and others
can do to make it happen.
practice
pri nciple r
y or behavio
An activit t
that serve
s le can do tha
nt
A stateme tion for a that peop ive
p rinciple al
as the fou
nda brings the visible.
r s it
behavior o and make
system of
belief. we do?
ie: What can
ent?
ie: Wha t’s the int

34. Without talking, show & share
princ
with a neighbor. iple
Enc pra
teamourage ctic
to t mem Hol
d a e
ake b
e risk ers
wee
practic
and” kly
ses “yes
s. pus sion ,
e
ncipl
h th to
pri une e de
the xpe sign
idy up dire cte in
T ace at ctio d
day ct sp ns.
each proje ach
Start h the en
d of e
a fres
with day.
ind.
& cl ear m

35. You have in your hands
your next intentional
environment. principle
pract
Encou ice
r
team m age Hold a
to tak embers “yes, a weekly
to pusnd” session
e risks
. in une h the desig
x
directi pected n
ons.

36. Environments happen.
Make them intentional.

37. #intentment
Thanks!
Teresa Brazen
teresa@adaptivepath.com
@TeresaBrazen
Kate Rutter
kate.rutter@gmail.com
@katerutter