Complex Problems, Collective Intelligence & Service Design

What happens when people from diverse backgrounds come together to tackle complex societal and systemic challenges?

How can we step beyond our own perspectives and learn from the diverse ways others approach pressing issues?

The Local Gov Service Design Network invites you to an evening of dynamic discussion, facilitated by experienced public sector service designers. Together, we'll unpack some of the most complex challenges we face today, share innovative solutions, and invite open critique from individuals of varying backgrounds, identities, and disciplines.

This event will feature several facilitated discussions where each participant plays an active role. We’ll explore how we can come together to solve problems, how our approaches differ, and how we can better understand each other’s worlds.

Whether you're a designer or not, this event is for anyone driven by curiosity and a desire to create meaningful change. People of all backgrounds are welcome to join us!

To keep things focused, we'll be diving into challenges around food waste and food surplus—a crucial topic that has a big impact on our communities.

Join us for a thought-provoking evening of collaborative dialogue and collective problem-solving.

Format:

The event will be structured around two 25-minute discussion sessions (x2 if needed). Participants will be provided with paper hats, sticky notes, and markers to facilitate active engagement.

1. Introduction to the Topic

In each session, the facilitator will introduce a societal challenge (e.g. tackling food waste in households). Relevant context, including statistics, trends, and actionable insights, will be provided to ensure participants understand the issue at hand.

2. Wearing Your “Hat”

Before the facilitated discussion begins, each participant will be encouraged to “wear a hat” that represents a particular perspective or identity they wish to speak from. This could be a role, experience, or characteristic that influences their view on the topic. For example, participants could choose to speak as a parent, a business owner, a local resident, or someone with a specific personal or professional identity related to the challenge. They’ll write this perspective on a sticky note and attach it to their hat, signaling which lens they’re engaging from in the discussion.

3. Facilitated Discussion

With their chosen perspective in mind, participants will engage in the conversation, using prompts such as:

• "I propose we think about...
• "Yes, and..."
• "No, but..."
  

4. The lead facilitator will guide the conversation, ensuring everyone has an opportunity to contribute and that the discussion remains focused and productive.

About the Venue

SPACE4 is a part of Outlandish, a digital agency and worker-cooperative committed to creating social and economic change. We run SPACE4 to invest in our local community, democratic business, and social movements. We achieve this through providing affordable workspace and networking and training events from our base in Finsbury Park. We are a hub for social innovators and digital activists. Don’t hesitate to get in touch or visit us.

SPACE4 Website: https://space4.tech

Outlandish Website: https://outlandish.com