Strategic Design and Complexity #3
A conversation with Toban Shadlyn
In 2022 Kaospilot and Elisava pioneered a new master program in Barcelona with Kaospilot Principal Christer Windeloev-Lidzelius as program director. Here Christer speaks with one of the pillars of the program, Toban Shadlyn, and her views on value of the program and its future.
Greetings Toban, just quickly for readers who may not know who you are – can you please tell us a bit about yourself?
Of course! Hello readers, for those who may not know me, I am a strategic designer, educator, and researcher. However, my design practice is always fluid moving between roles such as maker, host, condition setter, and steward. I am invested in building transformative systems in deep collaboration with others to move from ‘what was and what is’ to ‘what could be’. (If you are curious to know more).
What has been your relation to the strategic design program that we have run this year?
My experience with the strategic design program this year has been incredibly enriching and a joy. As a facilitator, I had the privilege of joining the program midway through, and was immediately struck by the vibrant community that this pioneering group of students had formed. They have cultivated a safe and creative environment for learning, fostering a culture of trust, support, and a shared commitment to venturing into the discomfort that comes with traveling in uncharted territory. Together, we embarked on a two-month intensive strategic design project based in the dynamic streets of Barcelona. This provided a rich context for the students to explore the complexities of the world, experiment with new methods and approaches in tackling systemic challenges, and develop their own unique design practice.
In your own words, what is strategic design all about?
For the purpose of this audience and context, strategic design is fundamentally about practicing new ways of seeing, feeling, understanding, and acting in our rapidly evolving world. Many of the challenges we face as a society today will not be resolved using the same logic and tools of the past, nor will they be resolved through simplification or abstraction. These challenges require new mindsets, new practices, and new approaches. This is what strategic design is all about.
What makes a program like this one unique and relevant would you say?
Many of our societal structures and systems were designed long ago and have failed to adapt to the realities of the present or are no longer fit for purpose. There is an urgent demand for professionals and organizations to be able to act within a different set of conditions. Learning environments, like this program, provide the time and space to collectively explore and practice. Strategic design in particular, focuses on both the ‘what’ (redefining or reframing what are we steering towards) and the ‘how’ (how will society transform within the necessary scale and speed required). Future success depends on human ability to navigate complexity and uncertainty, and this program equips students with the skills and mindset required to thrive in such an environment.
For whom would you say this program is a great match?
This program is for a wide range of individuals. It is for those who possess a deep desire to imagine and create better todays and better tomorrows. If you are someone who feels a sense of urgency to act and become agents of change, this program is for you. It is a space for those who find themselves profoundly uncomfortable with the status quo and motivated to explore the ‘how’ of transformation. If you are interested in developing new mindsets and practices, this program can be a place for that. Essentially, it welcomes anyone who is driven to make a difference and seeks to be part of a community dedicated to tackling the challenges of our time.