DESIGNING FROM AN EMERGING FUTURE
3D Modeling from Presencing Institute’s Awareness-Based Systems Change
Hey There. Please provide feedback after tonight’s session! https://forms.gle/ULTxH7o73CCFohNKA
Materials: A variety of small baubles of various shapes, textures, materials and sizes. Something that can be easily used to express a range of thoughts and feelings and be easily cleaned afterward. Sample supplies at right.
WHY AWARENESS-BASED?
WHEN THE USUAL METHODS FAIL
As designers, we aim to solve complex challenges with elegant solutions. We need fresh methods to:
Observe: Empathize with stakeholders + users and grasp systems
Reflect: Get present with ourselves, the system, and form our positions
Act: Create and test solutions while letting go of outcomes
FIRST WE RECOGNIZE
INNER CONDITIONS INFLUENCE OUTER REALITIES
We recognize–form follows our individual focus and feelings.
We change our outer reality by shifting the inner place from which we operate.
We aim to answer a calling to do work that’s meaningful to us and aligns with others.
Awareness-Based Systems Theory refers to this recognition as,
PRESENCING – being present and sensing
WHAT AWARENESS-BASED MEANS
THE INNER CONDITIONS WE CULTIVATE
Our three superpowers
observe; retreat & reflect; and to act in an instant.
Our three inner instruments
Open Mind, Heart, and Will
To remain aware of our three “inner critics”
the voices of judgment, cynicism, and fear.
WHAT IS AN ‘EMERGING FUTURE’?
AWARENESS EXTENDS TO GROUPS
When we deepen our sensing capabilities with our open mind, heart, and will, we engage our all our senses and intelligences.
We begin to access creative spaces that align with ‘source.’
When we practice these sensing and intelligences together in groups, we open ourselves to emergent collaboration and generative ‘making.’
Greater than the sum of our parts, we glimpse new future states as they emerge.
LET’S SHIFT OUR AWARENESS
A MINUTE’S PAUSE TOGETHER
Pause for a moment. Relax or close your eyes.
Soften your gaze.
Check in with your posture.
Notice the quality of your breathing.
What sounds can you hear around you?
Attend to the current moment as it is for you.
Shifting our awareness does not have to mean sitting for hours in lotus posture with our index finger and thumb touching. It can be as simple as resting the eyes softly for a moment or taking a deep breath. Shifting is a natural skill that everyone has. We may have experienced it before an important conversation, or when committing to a sports play, or a creative act.
ENGAGEMENT AWARENESS
LISTENING AND CONVERSATION
Keys to engage our awareness and recognize the impact our attention has on our reality. Awareness of a system affects that system.
To create together from an emerging future, we first understand the awareness levels we need to get there.
Let’s use the Presencing Institute’s four patterns of listening as one way to evaluate the quality of our engagement.
PATTERNS OF LISTENING
PATTERNS OF CONVERSATION
WHEN TO USE 3D MODELING
ENGAGE MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES TO SOLVE PROBLEMS
When you need to become more sensitive to the doing-qualities of your current situation.
Suspend mental concepts; build trust in body-knowing.
Accessing additional intelligences we gain new insights.
See things from new perspectives.
Play with what is emerging.
See possible futures that we want to create.
TODAY’S 3D MODELING
Describe, recite, or write down to yourself the specific problem or challenge you are working with.
PART ONE: MAKE SCULPTURE ONE (eight to 12 minutes)
The Sculptor
- Communicates as much as they wish to about what they intend to focus on in their situation, design challenge, or system issue.
- Can choose to describe what they are building while creating, or not.
- It’s ok to take time and work in silence or to verbally describe what’s happening in real time with your observer.
The Observer
- Open your mind, heart, and will to the sculptor.
- Observe and remain present. Witness the sculpture. Pay special attention to your own internal sensations.
- Only ask clarifying questions if needed. Try not to interrupt the sculptor.
- It’s ok to take notes.
PART TWO: 3-D MODEL REFLECTION (eight to 12 minutes)
Together
Move your bodies or rotate the sculpture so that both Sculptor and Coach are viewing from the same perspective or direction for the following four directions. It’s ok to take notes or photos.
It is important to physically move yourselves or the sculpture to experience multiple perspectives.
The Observer
From each of four directions, ask the following questions for the sculptor to respond to.
East, feeling. What do you love in the sculpture? What other emotions come up? What would this emotion say?
South, truth. What’s at risk for this situation to change? What’s at risk for it to stay the same?
West, reflection. What assumptions might be underlying this situation? If it were designed for you to learn, what might it be teaching?
North, purpose. What in the situation is ending, and wanting to be born? If this sculpture could speak, what advice might it offer?
PART THREE: THE REMODEL (five to seven minutes)
The 3D Model Sculptor
Allow a few moments to pause in stillness.
- Then take a couple minutes to adjust your sculpture to what an emerging future state might look like.
Share with your observer verbally.
- What is the first step you will take to bring this emerging future to life?
- Feel free to take notes or photos of your sculpture.
The Observer
Listen and offer observational feedback to your sculptor. Instead of offering advice or resources (which you can do outside of this container), share your direct observations of what you saw, heard, and felt emotionally yourself while you witnessed the sculptor.
Switch roles and repeat the three parts, or,
both parties thank each other and complete.
When ready, take your sculpture apart with care and replace all materials into the bag.
REFLECTING ON SCULPTURE ONE AND TWO
GROUP DISCUSSION AND OBSERVATIONS
Hey There. Please provide feedback after tonight’s session! https://forms.gle/ULTxH7o73CCFohNKA