Our Insight series returns this month for Design Business, as a part of our month on design. At The Office Space we appreciate the true power of great design. No longer the preserve of the aesthetically sensitive clique, good design - from cafes and coffee cups, to websites and applications, homes and offices - has the ability to shape and drive business. Our Design Business talk is presented by: Design by Toko – Graphic and concept design Design by Toko is a graphic design studio creating thoughtful and contemporary design solutions in the varied domain of commerce and culture. From concept and design to realisation, the studio offers a full creative service within branding, digital, spatial and print design. Since it’s inception in 2001, Design by Toko has worked on a wide range of projects in equally as many industries. Collaborating with clients who seek distinctive and innovative design solutions through creative lateral thinking, quality design and execution. The Office Space worked with Toko in 2014/2015 on a rebrand to commemorate our 10 years in business and to signify new office locations. Courtesy of the Artist (COTA) – Jewellery design Courtesy of the Artist continues to be at the forefront of the collectable contemporary jewellery movement since launching in 2005. Established as Metalab, a hub to foster and showcase artists and makers of Sydney and surrounds, Courtesy of the Artist has grown to proudly represent over 60 Artists and is committed to fostering the design community through monthly events and solo exhibitions where emerging and established craftspeople have the opportunity to demonstrate their techniques and discuss their works. Excited by the opportunities found in new practices such as 3D scanning and rapid prototyping, the store succeeds in celebrating those who are pushing the boundaries of design. Wheretofromhere? - Human and Collaboration Design Wheretofromhere? design personal and collective journeys to help leaders deal with complexity from vision to execution. Collaboration Design is at the heart of everything they do. In a complex world, dependencies are critical. It’s why Wheretofromhere take a holistic approach to every issue and opportunity. What problem are we solving? In what broader context does it fit? Who should be involved and in what way? Where should we get inspiration from to create different perspectives? Wheretofromhere? brings people together in a way that enables them to explore every dimension of the question, have the conversations they need to have, before developing and owning the solution.

1. Design Business 28.05.2015 Golden Age Cinema

2. Toko

3. Design by Toko. Level 3, Suite 304
19A Boundary Street
Rushcutters Bay 2011 NSW
Sydney, Australia
p. +61 (0)2 9357 4338
m.+61 (0)4 1361 3381
www.designbytoko.nu

4. About.
Toko is a graphic design studio creating
thoughtful and contemporary design solutions
in the varied domain of commerce and culture.
From concept and design to realisation, the
studio offers a full creative service within
branding, digital, spatial and print design. Since
it’s inception in 2001, Toko has worked on a wide
range of projects in equally as many industries.
Collaborating with clients who seek distinctive
and innovative design solutions through creative
lateral thinking, quality design and execution.
Small-scale to monumental, local to global,
start-up or established, it is the studio’s pursuit
to discover the ultimate potential of a project or
brief. Resolving each design task with clarity,
creativity and authenticity.
Design by Toko.

5. Areas of Expertise.
Branding
Logo design
Visual identity development
Brand strategy
Brand and product naming
Print & Publishing
Book and publication design
Magazine design
Art-direction
Corporate literature
Brochures
Posters / Invitations
Signage & Exhibition
Wayfinding & signage design
Exhibition design
Environmental graphics
Events & Campaigns
Festival and event branding
Campaign concepts and design
Digital
Website design
Website development
Concept & Design Services
Design consultancy
Concept development
Design by Toko.

6. Projects realised for
Australian Institute of Architects, City of Sydney,
UNSW, SBS Television, Powerhouse Museum, Oscar Wylee,
Virgin Mobile, Billard Leece Partnership, ABN Amro Bank,
MYOB, Ten Days on the Island, Architecture Institute Rotterdam,
NSW Architects Registration Board, UTS, Capital Museum of China,
Courtesy of the Artist, Cult (Corporate Culture), Goodmanors,
Australia Council for the Arts, Parramatta Council, The Office Space,
The Danish Agency for Culture, PTW Architects, NIDA, Oxfam,
The Communications Council, Virgin Australia, New York Times,
Urban Walkabout, Terroir Architects, Object Gallery, Jaguar,
Revolver, HTNK, Trenery, and many more…
Design by Toko.

7. Context
The Netherlands, a country in northwestern Europe,
is known for its flat landscape, canals, tulip fields, windmills
and cycling routes. Amsterdam, the capital, is home to the Rijksmuseum,
Van Gogh Museum, the house where Jewish diarist Anne Frank
hid during WWII and a red light district. Canalside mansions and
a trove of works from artists including Rembrandt and Vermeer
remain from the 17th-century “Golden Age.”
Capital: Amsterdam
Population: 16.8 million (2013)
Official language: Dutch
Design by Toko.

8. AUNL
Size

9. AUNL
Personal
space

10. AUNL
General
sky
condition

11. AUNL
5 hrs by
airplane

12. AU
Aesthetics
NL
Concept
Design
mentality

13. AUNL
Art

14. The top 5 challenges back then.
1. Hello we are here
2. (Different) Aesthetics
3. Network
4. Productivity
5. Clients and ambitions
Design by Toko.

15. The top 5 challenges then.
1. Hello we are here
2. (Different) Aesthetics
3. Network
4. Productivity
5. Clients and ambitions
The top 5 challenges now.
1. Them against us
2. Demise of canvas
3. Talent
4. Everybody is a designer
5. Clients and ambitions
Design by Toko.

16. Projects
Design by Toko.

70. The future...
Design by Toko.

71. The future.
1. Challenging bigger is better
2. Find new canvas and opportunities
3. Collaborate
4. Creating a critical culture
5. Stay true!
Design by Toko.

72. Thank you!
www.designbytoko.com
Design by Toko.

73. Courtesy of the Artist

100. Where to from here?

101. www.wheretofromhere.asia

102. 2
In a complex world, dependencies are critical. It’s
why we take a holistic approach to every issue and
opportunity. What problem are we solving? In what
broader context does it fit? Who should be involved
and in what way? Where should we get inspiration
from to create different perspectives?
We bring together people in a way that enables them
to explore every dimension of the question, have the
conversations they need to have, before developing
and owning the solution.
THE SOLUTION IS IN THE
EYE OF THE BEHOLDER.

103. WE DESIGN PERSONAL AND COLLECTIVE JOURNEYS
TO HELP LEADERS DEAL WITH COMPLEXITY
FROM VISION TO EXECUTION.
3

104. WE BELIEVE ORGANISATIONS OF THE FUTURE
NEED TO OPERATE AS LIVING SYSTEMS THAT ARE
INTERCONNECTED, INDEPENDENT AND CAPABLE
OF RESPONDING TO CONSTANTLY CHANGING
ENVIRONMENTS.
THE ROLE OF THE LEADER IS TO TAKE
THEIR ORGANISATION ON THE JOURNEY
AND TO INSPIRE GREATNESS.
OUR ROLE IS TO HELP THEM DO SO.

106. 6
True transformation is a journey. It involves a handful
of disruptive tipping points and numerous weak signals
that times are changing. Designing such a journey
requires careful sequencing of a small number of
game-changing collective experiences to leave deep
memories across the system. It also requires a multitude
of lighter touch points, over time, to reinforce new
patterns and behaviours.
A transformative journey is both collective and
individual. Ideally the ‘system’ – the internal dynamic
and patterns – evolves in tandem with its key
stakeholders, and particularly with the leaders driving
the transformation. By being slightly ahead of the curve
and in sync with the system as it evolves, leaders can
drive the transformation with confidence and respect.
Our role is to design personal and collective journeys
to help leaders deal with complexity from vision to
execution. Our contribution can be unpacked in three
distinct layers.
A JOURNEY

107. 7
THREE LAYERS
METHODOLOGY
The complex reality of transformation demands a range of tools and processes. We have deep mastery of the MG Taylor methodology, one of the world’s leading
approaches in the design and delivery of collaborative transformation. We also leverage a number of system and design thinking approaches, supported by a
body of knowledge enriched over decades through research and applied global experience.
Our practice is underpinned by extensive experience in management consulting, leadership development, experience design and community building across all
industries and geographies. Over the years, we have augmented our skillset with collaborative tools and processes such as Open Space Technology (OST), World
Cafe techniques, citizen jury models or crowdsourcing.
ECOSYSTEM
Like our clients, we are part of a dynamic and interconnected ecosystem. It informs how we work and with whom. We deliberately nurture new connections in all
fields of life – government, business, art, academia, NGOs – to ensure our community is vibrant and encompasses the widest possible range of skills, knowhow
and experience. We believe diversity is valuable in all its forms, whether it be gender, culture, age or social background.
This enables us to source the right expertise at just the right time, usually in very different ways from the traditional corporate world.
For each engagement, we assemble a diverse team of professionals to bring a unique perspective to the problem we are trying to solve and create the conditions
for new models and solutions to emerge.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Physical working conditions have a direct impact on the ability to create value. We support transformation by creating physical settings conducive to innovation
and emergence. Whether for a few days or a few years, these physical environments are critical. They enable collaboration, catalyse action and help shift
mindsets and behaviours. In the digital age, the ability to leverage technology in the workplace, as well as to foster multipoint collaboration is essential.
We have made significant progress in that field through a specific research project around the capability (hardware and software) and supporting behaviours
that drive value creation in large-scale collaborative enterprises. We embed these findings in how we approach complex transformations in order to develop the
future-readiness of the system as it transforms.

108. 8
Our value lies in our unique ability to
blend different methods and collaboration
techniques in the design of customised
collaborative journeys for our client
organisations and their key stakeholders.
This often involves tapping into a toolbox
of collaborative ‘modules’ that have proven
their robustness and effectiveness over
many years in diverse settings and across
geographies and industries.
NO TWO SITUATIONS ARE THE SAME,
SO NO TWO APPROACHES CAN BE IDENTICAL.

109. 9
DESIGNSHOPTM
The DesignShop™ is the flagship of our
suite of services. It unfolds in a three-day
collaborative workshop – supported by a
four to eight-week co-design process – to
accelerate complex decisions that usually
involve many stakeholders.
Leveraging an experienced facilitation
team, large-scale change model and creative
workspace, we help propel clients through
strategy and solution design into decision
making and implementation within three
days. The issues addressed in these sessions
are mission-critical and affect multiple levels
of an organisation.
In less complex cases where the scope
and objectives require less time and
possibly fewer participants, we leverage
DesignShop™ know-how in DesignSessions
that typically last one to two days.
COLLABORATION ZONE
A Collaboration Zone combines a dedicated
environment deployed at the project site
with specialised facilitation support and
practical acceleration techniques.
The collaborative environment can be
traditional (whiteboards, AV system) or fully
digital (smart boards, video conference)
when physical distance represents
a potential risk to the quality of the
collaboration or access to key resources.
A dedicated team of collaboration engineers
qualifies, designs and delivers collaborative
sessions on a continuous basis and with a
focus on project outcomes.
When sponsored at project management
office level, a Collaboration Zone drives
productivity, alignment and risk mitigation.
Sponsored at senior leadership level, it can
drive deep and sustainable transformation
of the organisation.
INSIGHT SESSIONS
At the early stages of strategic planning, the main challenge lies
around unpacking the complexity of the problem or the opportunity;
developing a shared understanding of the forces at play; forming a
view around how the key stakeholders of your ecosystem relate to
the question…
Salons bring together a limited number of peers from various
industries to explore a specific question and share insights and
perspectives in an intimate setting. They are all bout depth and
intimacy.
Open forums bring together a greater audience, in a creative
environment, for a more practical exploration of a specific challenge
or trend.
They both create unique opportunities to develop a 360° view
of the landscape surrounding a question and the various ways of
approaching it conceptually as well as practically.
Discovery sessions on the other hand bring together the key
decision makers of a single organisation to explore external
perspectives on their burning issues and form high level views of
possible pathways.
Light by nature, these types of sessions help the organisation
maintain a healthy breadth of perspectives and regularly question its
certainties.
COLLABORATIVE
‘MODULES’

110. 10
ACCELERATED GROWTH IN ASIA
• How do I create a leadership culture and collaboration model that will deliver my very
ambitious growth target?
• How do I embrace the diversity across the region and create alchemy to get the best
from people?
• How do I drive the cultural and operational shift of my organisations towards Asia?
SYSTEMIC TRANSFORMATION
• How do I provide meaning and foster a sense of purpose?
• How do I synchronously transform both the organisation (processes, systems, models
and frameworks) and its people (leadership, culture, behaviours, ways of working)?
• How do I drive deep change in order to have a sustainable impact?
• How do I accelerate the transformation without compromising on the depth of impact?
COLLABORATIVE INNOVATION
• How can I fill my innovation pipeline for the short, medium and / or long term?
• What Innovation capability should I develop and how?
• How can I foster the emergence of a company-wide innovation culture?
• How can I leverage the potential of my immediate or extended ecosystem?
• What would be the right business model to tackle this new market / segment?
We deal with complexity in all its forms and as a
consequence, we are exposed to a great variety of
issues and opportunities that sit on top of executives’
agendas. Looking back over the conversations we are
having across industries, we see a pattern of questions
emerging, structured around three major themes.

111. 11
Philippe
Coullomb
www.wheretofromhere.asia
Josie
Gibson
+61 (0)478 010 033
philippe@wheretofromhere.asia
Sydney, Australia
+61 (0)400 163 311
josie@wheretofromhere.asia
Melbourne, Australia
+61 (0)415 080 474
charles@wheretofromhere.asia
Sydney, Australia
+ 64 (0)272 455 859
steph@wheretofromhere.asia
Wellington, New Zealand
+66 (0)9 5520 8432
pierre-louis@wheretofromhere.asia
Bangkok, Thailand
Charles
Collingwood-Boots
Steph
Beath
Pierre-Louis
Abel

113. Thank You
theofficespace.com.au