The document summarizes the author's experience touring residential spaces with different levels of universal design elements as part of a Universal Design Summit. The tours showed how physical obstacles in spaces can create frustration, anxiety and negatively impact interactions between people. However, in spaces designed with universal design principles that eliminated obstacles, the author observed people being more relaxed, open and conversational. This demonstrated how universal design can add emotional value by reducing stress and dependence, allowing people to focus on similarities rather than differences. The author argues that incorporating these principles can help corporations improve productivity and innovation by creating a more equitable and relaxed workplace environment.
Writer, director and producer Kirby Ferguson took to Heroku's Waza stage on Feb 26, 2013 to present "Everything is a Remix" -- a look at sampling, attribution and the creative process. In addition to regaling audiences with his presentations, Ferguson's comedic short films have received more than 4 million views including his recent success with CBC development partnership and viral musical short "Macs vs PCs". The full video of Ferguson's talk will be available shortly at http://vimeo.com/heroku. For more info on Waza, visit http://waza.heroku.com/2013.
For Waza videos stay tuned at http://blog.heroku.com or visit http://vimeo.com/herokuwaza
Systems approach to university research chairs pre proposal workshop-mb [comp...The Scinnovent Centre
This document summarizes Maurice Bolo's presentation on applying systems approaches to university research chairs programmes in Kenya. The presentation outlines that the context for science is changing from a linear "Mode 1" approach to a more interactive "Mode 2" approach. It emphasizes that research should be participatory and avoid isolated "ivory tower" work. It also discusses how Kenya can enhance its competitiveness through research chairs by improving its research environment and infrastructure, training, innovation, and skilled workforce. The presentation recommends organizational, methodological, and personal changes to adopt a systems approach - including participatory problem-solving, multi-disciplinary teams, and interactive learning. It closes by discussing applying these approaches to agri-biotech and health innovation systems
Buenas tardes, aquí están las tareas que tengo asignadas para hoy:
- Limpiar la cocina. Debo lavar los platos, barrer el piso y limpiar la mesa y la encimera.
- Sacar la basura. Recoger las bolsas de basura de toda la casa y sacarlas al contenedor de la calle.
- Pasar la aspiradora. Aspirar toda la casa, especialmente en las zonas donde hay más polvo como debajo de los muebles.
- Lavar la ropa. Separar la ropa sucia, meterla en
El diagrama muestra las entidades de Ropa, Accesorios y Personal vinculadas mediante relaciones. Ropa y Accesorios se complementan mutuamente y ambas entidades se vinculan a Personal a través de la relación "VENDE", que es de muchos a muchos.
Science and Technology Role in Accelerated Socio-economic achievement of visi...The Scinnovent Centre
1. The document discusses the role of science, technology, and innovation (ST&I) in achieving Kenya's Vision 2030 goals of sustained economic growth, social development, and a democratic political system.
2. ST&I is recognized as a key enabler of competitiveness, and agricultural science and technology is seen as important for accelerating progress on Vision 2030.
3. However, Kenya faces challenges like increasing population putting stress on resources, and needs to strengthen ST&I to address issues of low productivity and diversify its economy.
This document discusses the need for workplace accessibility and flexibility. It notes that the workforce is changing with more people with disabilities or impairments working. It argues that work is also changing with faster information flow requiring more flexibility. To adapt, workplaces need to create an "omnipresence" that allows productive work from anywhere through universal design. This includes accessibility of technology, multi-purpose spaces, and self-service options. The document provides examples of adding flexibility through movable furniture and digital signage. It stresses that change is inevitable and universal design can help organizations succeed.
Writer, director and producer Kirby Ferguson took to Heroku's Waza stage on Feb 26, 2013 to present "Everything is a Remix" -- a look at sampling, attribution and the creative process. In addition to regaling audiences with his presentations, Ferguson's comedic short films have received more than 4 million views including his recent success with CBC development partnership and viral musical short "Macs vs PCs". The full video of Ferguson's talk will be available shortly at http://vimeo.com/heroku. For more info on Waza, visit http://waza.heroku.com/2013.
For Waza videos stay tuned at http://blog.heroku.com or visit http://vimeo.com/herokuwaza
Systems approach to university research chairs pre proposal workshop-mb [comp...The Scinnovent Centre
This document summarizes Maurice Bolo's presentation on applying systems approaches to university research chairs programmes in Kenya. The presentation outlines that the context for science is changing from a linear "Mode 1" approach to a more interactive "Mode 2" approach. It emphasizes that research should be participatory and avoid isolated "ivory tower" work. It also discusses how Kenya can enhance its competitiveness through research chairs by improving its research environment and infrastructure, training, innovation, and skilled workforce. The presentation recommends organizational, methodological, and personal changes to adopt a systems approach - including participatory problem-solving, multi-disciplinary teams, and interactive learning. It closes by discussing applying these approaches to agri-biotech and health innovation systems
Buenas tardes, aquí están las tareas que tengo asignadas para hoy:
- Limpiar la cocina. Debo lavar los platos, barrer el piso y limpiar la mesa y la encimera.
- Sacar la basura. Recoger las bolsas de basura de toda la casa y sacarlas al contenedor de la calle.
- Pasar la aspiradora. Aspirar toda la casa, especialmente en las zonas donde hay más polvo como debajo de los muebles.
- Lavar la ropa. Separar la ropa sucia, meterla en
El diagrama muestra las entidades de Ropa, Accesorios y Personal vinculadas mediante relaciones. Ropa y Accesorios se complementan mutuamente y ambas entidades se vinculan a Personal a través de la relación "VENDE", que es de muchos a muchos.
Science and Technology Role in Accelerated Socio-economic achievement of visi...The Scinnovent Centre
1. The document discusses the role of science, technology, and innovation (ST&I) in achieving Kenya's Vision 2030 goals of sustained economic growth, social development, and a democratic political system.
2. ST&I is recognized as a key enabler of competitiveness, and agricultural science and technology is seen as important for accelerating progress on Vision 2030.
3. However, Kenya faces challenges like increasing population putting stress on resources, and needs to strengthen ST&I to address issues of low productivity and diversify its economy.
This document discusses the need for workplace accessibility and flexibility. It notes that the workforce is changing with more people with disabilities or impairments working. It argues that work is also changing with faster information flow requiring more flexibility. To adapt, workplaces need to create an "omnipresence" that allows productive work from anywhere through universal design. This includes accessibility of technology, multi-purpose spaces, and self-service options. The document provides examples of adding flexibility through movable furniture and digital signage. It stresses that change is inevitable and universal design can help organizations succeed.
This document discusses the role of a "keynote listener" whose goal is to listen empathetically to all contributors at an event, rearticulate their comments in a way that integrates their perspectives into the broader system context, and help unlock latent potential for growth. The author argues that such a role could help disrupt existing paradigms and power structures in a compassionate way, enabling more transformational dialogue and exploration of alternative solutions to urgent global problems. By temporarily opening minds and creating safe spaces for respectful self-differentiation and reintegration of ideas, the author believes a keynote listener could help catalyze positive system change without compromising integrity.
2014 Institute in Innovation in Education Prague Gathering - Clement Coulston...Clement Coulston
The 2014 Institute in Innovation in Education gathered students, educators, researchers, NGOs, and leaders, with a specific focus on youth engagement and leadership! This took place at the Riverside International School in Prague.
**Due to the PDF conversation to SlideShare.net, it is encouraged to download the resource for a better viewing experience**
Jess Mitchell discusses inclusive design, which considers the full diversity of humanity in design. Inclusive design results in better experiences for everyone. Mitchell acknowledges the traditional lands they are on and reflects on the need to reconcile past injustices. Complex problems require design thinking and inclusive design thinking to create solutions that work for more people and address existing gaps. Inclusive design recognizes diversity, uses an inclusive process, and aims to have broader beneficial impact. It challenges assumptions and designs for the edges to benefit the majority.
Creating conditions for meaningful research participationKelly Ann McKercher
In the customer experience world, we often talk about understanding and strengthening the experience customers have with our products and services.
What about the research experience?
Understanding what constitutes meaningful and worthwhile research experiences allows us to hold ourselves and our research partners accountable. It’s up to us to empathise with, understand and create the relevant conditions for participants to contribute in the ways meaningful for them.
- Inclusive means considering the full range of human diversity with respect to ability, language, culture, gender, age and other forms of human difference. Designing inclusively results in better experiences for everyone.
- Being inclusive is often uncomfortable and what makes us comfortable is frequently not inclusive. We must push ourselves outside our comfort zones to foster inclusiveness.
- Data-driven and measurable decisions can undermine inclusiveness if they do not consider the full diversity of people, including minorities. Inclusiveness requires qualitative considerations in addition to quantitative data.
Inclusive communities are better communities. An inclusive community which welcomes diversity and encourages and enables participation is better placed to withstand the challenges of the future. This guide explains what it means to be inclusive, and the methods we can use to make sure everyone gets a chance to join in.
This field guide was published by the Eden Project as part of its Big Lunch Extras programme. Find out more at www.biglunchextras.com
Inclusive Play - Sensory Therapy Gardens ManualKlausGroenholm
Children benefit from inclusive play that allows interaction with the environment and development through play. However, children's environments have become less natural and outdoor play is discouraged more. It is critical for play provisions to be inclusive of all children and consider their diverse needs. An inclusive approach considers the needs of all groups at every stage of development to avoid excluding anyone and encourages participation to create varied opportunities for all to engage.
Community Conversations are dynamic dialogues that bring together community stakeholders that consider specific concerns or social issues. Mike Ratner's CommunityConversations.com grad project
How to apply DEI lens to community engagementMuryani Kasdani
Why does Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) matter to build a robust community engagement strategy? Having diverse voices help inform inclusive and more equitable programs and services that are more effective to deliver the intended outcomes, especially in solving complex social and environmental challenges. And the process of engagement itself usually creates a sense of ownership from community members. When people are meaningfully engaged, it increases the likelihood for the initiatives to be adopted by the community, and empower community members to be the drivers of change.
Whether we call it user research, co-design, or community engagement, the purpose of the activities is similar, which is to create spaces where people, especially those who will be most impacted, can meaningfully inform, shape, design, envision, and evaluate the interventions. Behind all of these activities is the belief that participatory approach to solving problems leads to better outcomes.
There are many resources available that talk about best practices in engaging community members for program design. I would like to add to this conversation by using the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion lens to approach community engagement, user research, or co-design based on my experience working with community members who are historically under invested and marginalized.
Arc 211: American Diversity and Design: Lauren GreatrixLauren Greatrix
This document summarizes Lauren Greatrix's responses to online discussion questions for her American Diversity and Design course at the University at Buffalo in Spring 2017. In her responses, Lauren discusses how the course has taught her about inclusive design that considers people with disabilities and minority groups. She also discusses how design can affect people in non-architectural ways and provides insights from learning about how sports teams use ethnicity in marketing. Lauren states she will bring the knowledge from the course into her future endeavors.
ARC 211: American Diversity and Design: Megan PovinelliMegan Povinelli
The student was asked to imagine rebuilding Pruitt Igoe public housing project in St. Louis with urban planners Emily Talen and Kent Larson. The student proposes three strategies: 1) Scatter the buildings among existing neighborhoods to better integrate tenants and increase advocacy for maintenance. 2) Incorporate Talen's focus on promoting diversity. 3) Include Larson's emphasis on multi-functional design like walkways to increase social interaction and alternative transportation. The strategies aim to address issues of isolation, lack of resources, and safety that contributed to Pruitt Igoe's decline.
The document discusses the concept of "syntony", a new science developed by Alexander Laszlo. It describes syntony as a state of harmony and coordination where individuals adapt to changes instantly without needing to stop and plan. An example is given of jazz musicians improvising together in harmony without a leader. The training on syntony aims to teach people how to facilitate positive change and work flexibly with others in today's uncertain world.
Aging2.0 Designer in Residence webinar "Define" presentationEric Kihlstrom
This document summarizes a meeting of the Define collaboration between several organizations focused on aging. It discusses the designer in residence Ela Neagu and her work with Arthritis Research UK. The group discusses reframing questions around helping elderly people and their families. Ela outlines her design process of interviews and workshops to understand user needs. The group considers criteria for defining good research questions and creates personas. A retirement community partner shares challenges of creating safe spaces for family visits during COVID. The meeting concludes by workshopping reframes of the challenge and insights to guide new design principles.
The document provides guidance for planning and facilitating an Open Space event. It discusses choosing a compelling theme, developing an invitation, facility requirements, materials needed, and the benefits of a host team for planning. Open Space is described as a self-organizing process that invites participants to engage around topics they are passionate about. With minimal structure, the format allows for dynamic conversations, collaboration, and identification of solutions. The document offers tips for space layout, supplies, and pre-work activities like conducting a practice simulation with the host team.
The document summarizes a presentation on design for social impact. The presentation introduced the concept of using design and the built environment to empower communities and influence behaviors. Participants engaged in a group discussion about improving higher education and learning. They envisioned an ideal campus that is student-centered, brings people together in social spaces, and connects to nature. The discussion revealed that outdated design can create divisions and irrelevant spaces, while empowering users to critique their environment allows design to better meet changing needs.
Creating a Healthy Digital Culture: How empathy can change our organizationsDomain7
We often think of empathy as an abstract, emotional concept, maybe even see it as a weakness in an organizational context. This presentations suggests that empathy might be our greatest secret weapon to changing our organizations to become higher-performing, more innovative, better places to work, serving happier customers.
From #NowWhat15, http://nowwhatconference.com/
Creating a Healthy Digital Culture by Kevan Gilbert (Now What? Conference 2015)Blend Interactive
Now that your new site is up, it’s the time to think for long-term. Next year, will you still be the only champion for change? Or will everyone from leadership to front-line workers embrace the power of digital? Was this web project just short-term relief work to solve itchy problems, or is it part of a pattern of thoughtful, iterative growth? Discover tools, approaches and facilitation tactics to help transform your organization into a culture of digital excellence.
We gathered community leaders and a remarkable diversity of storytellers, to use the "collective story harvest" method as a way to practice listening across differences. Part of the 2018 Pittsburgh Inclusive Innovation Week. A blog post describing the workshop in more detail is here: http://www.fitassociates.com/blog/listening-to-difference
Anny Serafina Love - Letter of Recommendation by Kellen Harkins, MS.AnnySerafinaLove
This letter, written by Kellen Harkins, Course Director at Full Sail University, commends Anny Love's exemplary performance in the Video Sharing Platforms class. It highlights her dedication, willingness to challenge herself, and exceptional skills in production, editing, and marketing across various video platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.
This document discusses the role of a "keynote listener" whose goal is to listen empathetically to all contributors at an event, rearticulate their comments in a way that integrates their perspectives into the broader system context, and help unlock latent potential for growth. The author argues that such a role could help disrupt existing paradigms and power structures in a compassionate way, enabling more transformational dialogue and exploration of alternative solutions to urgent global problems. By temporarily opening minds and creating safe spaces for respectful self-differentiation and reintegration of ideas, the author believes a keynote listener could help catalyze positive system change without compromising integrity.
2014 Institute in Innovation in Education Prague Gathering - Clement Coulston...Clement Coulston
The 2014 Institute in Innovation in Education gathered students, educators, researchers, NGOs, and leaders, with a specific focus on youth engagement and leadership! This took place at the Riverside International School in Prague.
**Due to the PDF conversation to SlideShare.net, it is encouraged to download the resource for a better viewing experience**
Jess Mitchell discusses inclusive design, which considers the full diversity of humanity in design. Inclusive design results in better experiences for everyone. Mitchell acknowledges the traditional lands they are on and reflects on the need to reconcile past injustices. Complex problems require design thinking and inclusive design thinking to create solutions that work for more people and address existing gaps. Inclusive design recognizes diversity, uses an inclusive process, and aims to have broader beneficial impact. It challenges assumptions and designs for the edges to benefit the majority.
Creating conditions for meaningful research participationKelly Ann McKercher
In the customer experience world, we often talk about understanding and strengthening the experience customers have with our products and services.
What about the research experience?
Understanding what constitutes meaningful and worthwhile research experiences allows us to hold ourselves and our research partners accountable. It’s up to us to empathise with, understand and create the relevant conditions for participants to contribute in the ways meaningful for them.
- Inclusive means considering the full range of human diversity with respect to ability, language, culture, gender, age and other forms of human difference. Designing inclusively results in better experiences for everyone.
- Being inclusive is often uncomfortable and what makes us comfortable is frequently not inclusive. We must push ourselves outside our comfort zones to foster inclusiveness.
- Data-driven and measurable decisions can undermine inclusiveness if they do not consider the full diversity of people, including minorities. Inclusiveness requires qualitative considerations in addition to quantitative data.
Inclusive communities are better communities. An inclusive community which welcomes diversity and encourages and enables participation is better placed to withstand the challenges of the future. This guide explains what it means to be inclusive, and the methods we can use to make sure everyone gets a chance to join in.
This field guide was published by the Eden Project as part of its Big Lunch Extras programme. Find out more at www.biglunchextras.com
Inclusive Play - Sensory Therapy Gardens ManualKlausGroenholm
Children benefit from inclusive play that allows interaction with the environment and development through play. However, children's environments have become less natural and outdoor play is discouraged more. It is critical for play provisions to be inclusive of all children and consider their diverse needs. An inclusive approach considers the needs of all groups at every stage of development to avoid excluding anyone and encourages participation to create varied opportunities for all to engage.
Community Conversations are dynamic dialogues that bring together community stakeholders that consider specific concerns or social issues. Mike Ratner's CommunityConversations.com grad project
How to apply DEI lens to community engagementMuryani Kasdani
Why does Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) matter to build a robust community engagement strategy? Having diverse voices help inform inclusive and more equitable programs and services that are more effective to deliver the intended outcomes, especially in solving complex social and environmental challenges. And the process of engagement itself usually creates a sense of ownership from community members. When people are meaningfully engaged, it increases the likelihood for the initiatives to be adopted by the community, and empower community members to be the drivers of change.
Whether we call it user research, co-design, or community engagement, the purpose of the activities is similar, which is to create spaces where people, especially those who will be most impacted, can meaningfully inform, shape, design, envision, and evaluate the interventions. Behind all of these activities is the belief that participatory approach to solving problems leads to better outcomes.
There are many resources available that talk about best practices in engaging community members for program design. I would like to add to this conversation by using the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion lens to approach community engagement, user research, or co-design based on my experience working with community members who are historically under invested and marginalized.
Arc 211: American Diversity and Design: Lauren GreatrixLauren Greatrix
This document summarizes Lauren Greatrix's responses to online discussion questions for her American Diversity and Design course at the University at Buffalo in Spring 2017. In her responses, Lauren discusses how the course has taught her about inclusive design that considers people with disabilities and minority groups. She also discusses how design can affect people in non-architectural ways and provides insights from learning about how sports teams use ethnicity in marketing. Lauren states she will bring the knowledge from the course into her future endeavors.
ARC 211: American Diversity and Design: Megan PovinelliMegan Povinelli
The student was asked to imagine rebuilding Pruitt Igoe public housing project in St. Louis with urban planners Emily Talen and Kent Larson. The student proposes three strategies: 1) Scatter the buildings among existing neighborhoods to better integrate tenants and increase advocacy for maintenance. 2) Incorporate Talen's focus on promoting diversity. 3) Include Larson's emphasis on multi-functional design like walkways to increase social interaction and alternative transportation. The strategies aim to address issues of isolation, lack of resources, and safety that contributed to Pruitt Igoe's decline.
The document discusses the concept of "syntony", a new science developed by Alexander Laszlo. It describes syntony as a state of harmony and coordination where individuals adapt to changes instantly without needing to stop and plan. An example is given of jazz musicians improvising together in harmony without a leader. The training on syntony aims to teach people how to facilitate positive change and work flexibly with others in today's uncertain world.
Aging2.0 Designer in Residence webinar "Define" presentationEric Kihlstrom
This document summarizes a meeting of the Define collaboration between several organizations focused on aging. It discusses the designer in residence Ela Neagu and her work with Arthritis Research UK. The group discusses reframing questions around helping elderly people and their families. Ela outlines her design process of interviews and workshops to understand user needs. The group considers criteria for defining good research questions and creates personas. A retirement community partner shares challenges of creating safe spaces for family visits during COVID. The meeting concludes by workshopping reframes of the challenge and insights to guide new design principles.
The document provides guidance for planning and facilitating an Open Space event. It discusses choosing a compelling theme, developing an invitation, facility requirements, materials needed, and the benefits of a host team for planning. Open Space is described as a self-organizing process that invites participants to engage around topics they are passionate about. With minimal structure, the format allows for dynamic conversations, collaboration, and identification of solutions. The document offers tips for space layout, supplies, and pre-work activities like conducting a practice simulation with the host team.
The document summarizes a presentation on design for social impact. The presentation introduced the concept of using design and the built environment to empower communities and influence behaviors. Participants engaged in a group discussion about improving higher education and learning. They envisioned an ideal campus that is student-centered, brings people together in social spaces, and connects to nature. The discussion revealed that outdated design can create divisions and irrelevant spaces, while empowering users to critique their environment allows design to better meet changing needs.
Creating a Healthy Digital Culture: How empathy can change our organizationsDomain7
We often think of empathy as an abstract, emotional concept, maybe even see it as a weakness in an organizational context. This presentations suggests that empathy might be our greatest secret weapon to changing our organizations to become higher-performing, more innovative, better places to work, serving happier customers.
From #NowWhat15, http://nowwhatconference.com/
Creating a Healthy Digital Culture by Kevan Gilbert (Now What? Conference 2015)Blend Interactive
Now that your new site is up, it’s the time to think for long-term. Next year, will you still be the only champion for change? Or will everyone from leadership to front-line workers embrace the power of digital? Was this web project just short-term relief work to solve itchy problems, or is it part of a pattern of thoughtful, iterative growth? Discover tools, approaches and facilitation tactics to help transform your organization into a culture of digital excellence.
We gathered community leaders and a remarkable diversity of storytellers, to use the "collective story harvest" method as a way to practice listening across differences. Part of the 2018 Pittsburgh Inclusive Innovation Week. A blog post describing the workshop in more detail is here: http://www.fitassociates.com/blog/listening-to-difference
Anny Serafina Love - Letter of Recommendation by Kellen Harkins, MS.AnnySerafinaLove
This letter, written by Kellen Harkins, Course Director at Full Sail University, commends Anny Love's exemplary performance in the Video Sharing Platforms class. It highlights her dedication, willingness to challenge herself, and exceptional skills in production, editing, and marketing across various video platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.
Event Report - SAP Sapphire 2024 Orlando - lots of innovation and old challengesHolger Mueller
Holger Mueller of Constellation Research shares his key takeaways from SAP's Sapphire confernece, held in Orlando, June 3rd till 5th 2024, in the Orange Convention Center.
Navigating the world of forex trading can be challenging, especially for beginners. To help you make an informed decision, we have comprehensively compared the best forex brokers in India for 2024. This article, reviewed by Top Forex Brokers Review, will cover featured award winners, the best forex brokers, featured offers, the best copy trading platforms, the best forex brokers for beginners, the best MetaTrader brokers, and recently updated reviews. We will focus on FP Markets, Black Bull, EightCap, IC Markets, and Octa.
B2B payments are rapidly changing. Find out the 5 key questions you need to be asking yourself to be sure you are mastering B2B payments today. Learn more at www.BlueSnap.com.
Tata Group Dials Taiwan for Its Chipmaking Ambition in Gujarat’s DholeraAvirahi City Dholera
The Tata Group, a titan of Indian industry, is making waves with its advanced talks with Taiwanese chipmakers Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (PSMC) and UMC Group. The goal? Establishing a cutting-edge semiconductor fabrication unit (fab) in Dholera, Gujarat. This isn’t just any project; it’s a potential game changer for India’s chipmaking aspirations and a boon for investors seeking promising residential projects in dholera sir.
Visit : https://www.avirahi.com/blog/tata-group-dials-taiwan-for-its-chipmaking-ambition-in-gujarats-dholera/
Building Your Employer Brand with Social MediaLuanWise
Presented at The Global HR Summit, 6th June 2024
In this keynote, Luan Wise will provide invaluable insights to elevate your employer brand on social media platforms including LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok. You'll learn how compelling content can authentically showcase your company culture, values, and employee experiences to support your talent acquisition and retention objectives. Additionally, you'll understand the power of employee advocacy to amplify reach and engagement – helping to position your organization as an employer of choice in today's competitive talent landscape.
Unveiling the Dynamic Personalities, Key Dates, and Horoscope Insights: Gemin...my Pandit
Explore the fascinating world of the Gemini Zodiac Sign. Discover the unique personality traits, key dates, and horoscope insights of Gemini individuals. Learn how their sociable, communicative nature and boundless curiosity make them the dynamic explorers of the zodiac. Dive into the duality of the Gemini sign and understand their intellectual and adventurous spirit.
Best practices for project execution and deliveryCLIVE MINCHIN
A select set of project management best practices to keep your project on-track, on-cost and aligned to scope. Many firms have don't have the necessary skills, diligence, methods and oversight of their projects; this leads to slippage, higher costs and longer timeframes. Often firms have a history of projects that simply failed to move the needle. These best practices will help your firm avoid these pitfalls but they require fortitude to apply.
Implicitly or explicitly all competing businesses employ a strategy to select a mix
of marketing resources. Formulating such competitive strategies fundamentally
involves recognizing relationships between elements of the marketing mix (e.g.,
price and product quality), as well as assessing competitive and market conditions
(i.e., industry structure in the language of economics).
Part 2 Deep Dive: Navigating the 2024 Slowdownjeffkluth1
Introduction
The global retail industry has weathered numerous storms, with the financial crisis of 2008 serving as a poignant reminder of the sector's resilience and adaptability. However, as we navigate the complex landscape of 2024, retailers face a unique set of challenges that demand innovative strategies and a fundamental shift in mindset. This white paper contrasts the impact of the 2008 recession on the retail sector with the current headwinds retailers are grappling with, while offering a comprehensive roadmap for success in this new paradigm.
How MJ Global Leads the Packaging Industry.pdfMJ Global
MJ Global's success in staying ahead of the curve in the packaging industry is a testament to its dedication to innovation, sustainability, and customer-centricity. By embracing technological advancements, leading in eco-friendly solutions, collaborating with industry leaders, and adapting to evolving consumer preferences, MJ Global continues to set new standards in the packaging sector.
Storytelling is an incredibly valuable tool to share data and information. To get the most impact from stories there are a number of key ingredients. These are based on science and human nature. Using these elements in a story you can deliver information impactfully, ensure action and drive change.
1. Relaxed Sense of Place
Emotional Value of Universal Design
Kim Vanderland
May, 2013
2. Relaxed Sense of Place ii
Universal
Design
is
inclusive,
attractive
and
never
obvious;
it
integrates
features
that
improve
function
and
usability
for
everyone.
(http://udsummit.net/)
3. Kim Vanderland
Space Matters Consulting
May, 2013
Relaxed Sense of Place 1
Relaxed Sense of Place
Emotional Value of Universal Design
During the recent Universal Design Summit in St. Louis, I was able to participate in several
tours of residential spaces with different levels of universal design elements. My group was
lucky enough to have the schedule with sequential order of increasing levels of universal
design integration.
To give some context, the total group was ~20 people and we were separated into 2-3
smaller groups for each site tour. Each of my groups included a very diverse group of
people with varying levels of access needs, to include powered wheelchair, visual
impairments, larger and shorter statures, etc. During each tour, I felt and observed very
different emotional reactions and group dynamics that exposed the impact design can have
on individuals that may be highly applicable and needed in the business world.
Renovated Space – Added Accessibility:
The first location was a renovation project of a historic manufacturing building. The
building was designed to be home for local artists to include residential and studio spaces.
Because it was a renovation, there were many obstacles inherent to the building that could
not or were too costly to be corrected. The impact of these obstacles on our group such as
having to maneuver through narrow halls, backtracking around stairs, and low light
conditions became very obvious very quickly. Those people facing impediments quickly
showed strong levels of frustration, high tension, anxiety, and even anger. I felt high
anxiety as well, but also awkwardness, apprehension, and stress resulting from a sense of
4. Relaxed Sense of Place 2
obligation to provide assistance to others (even if it wasn’t asked for). There was little
conversation during the tour with the tour guide other than how to work around or why
obstacles existed. There was even less conversation among the participants with each other.
It was a very uncomfortable visit.
Designed Community – Separate but Equal:
The next site visited was a community redevelopment project to revive an urban
neighborhood. The premise was to build a community with universally designed common
spaces to enable ease of use by all community members. The residential units included
sections of universally designed apartments as well as typically designed town houses.
Again, the tour group included a similar set of diverse access needs, but a few of the
individuals stepped away from the first group. I inquired to some why they changed groups
and they shared they had purposely avoided being in the same group because of the
uncomfortable experience on the first site tour.
We started the tour in a community room that was similar to a lobby in a hotel. It was
beautiful and far more modern feeling that the previous space. As we progressed out into
the community and through a residential unit, the group was clearly more relaxed. The
apartment was very attractive, with great finishes, comfortable feel, and thoughtful attention
to the variety of uses within the space. There were fewer obstacles to overcome; less
maneuvering needed to get from place to place. However, when one was discovered,
similar awkwardness and anxiety was noted. Areas like sidewalks not wide enough to allow
5. Relaxed Sense of Place 3
people to pass each other comfortably. As we transitioned through doors, there was no
door opener, resulting in either needed assistance or struggles to open doors independently
by those in chairs or with weaker abilities. In addition, the group could not tour a
townhouse due to the physical obstacles, such as stairs to front doors, etc. This did raise
some frustrations and anxiety by some in the group, as well as some references to “separate
but equal” conditions.
Overall, the tour group seemed to have less negative emotions related to the physical space
than in the first site visit. The group was more conversational, asking questions of the tour
guides, but also sharing a bit more information with each other. The group seemed less
distracted by obstacles or negatives and more open to possibilities and learning. Seeking to
understand rather than primarily focused on their personal needs or avoiding those with
needs not being met. But, I admittedly thought about the accessible choices that I had
available to me that some of the others did not. I could see situations in which this
difference could be used to create separation, dependence, and even discrimination.
Intentional Ease of Use
The last site visited was an apartment building in which all of the units were constructed
using the same universal design standards. The tour started in the lobby similarly to the
community visited just prior. My group included a mix of individuals who had been
together on one or both of the previous tours, with similar variety of access needs as noted
before.
6. Relaxed Sense of Place 4
The interior of the building was very modern, bright and beautiful. There were open spaces,
with clean lines and uncluttered designs. My group of ~10 people toured the external
parking lot, gym facilities, a first floor retail work/live apartment, as well as a 1 bedroom
apartment on an upper floor. As the tour progressed, I began to notice that I was actually
very relaxed, no anxiety and surprisingly, oblivious to the access needs of the individuals
around me. I felt absolutely no obligation to provide aide, which seemed to open me up to
connect with the person as a peer, rather than what I had experienced before.
Remember, these are the same people as on the previous tours. To be painfully honest, I
had already developed some fairly narrow assessments of the capabilities of some of my tour
mates. But in this space, it was much easier to focus on their words and ideas and not their
circumstances or physical actions. There were no physical obstacles to deal with, thus no
need for anxiety on how I was supposed to interact with the people on the tour. In fact, I
saw less difference among the group and saw more likeness, and had a desire to hear their
opinions and value their inputs. Overall, I had become more open to problem solving rather
than problem identification.
This relaxed emotional state seemed to be shared by others, as the group was very
conversational, seeking to learn more about each other, even raising controversial topics for
open debate. During this site visit, many people asked more questions of me and for my
business card (20+ times), which had really not happened on either of the two previous
tours.
7. Relaxed Sense of Place 5
On the ride back, I thought about the corporate opportunity of this experience. How could
corporations benefit from the emotional value created through the universal design of space?
The So What…
This experience demonstrated to me that universal design could add tremendous value
through easing stressors and diminishing dependence (perceived or actual). By easing these
tensions, emotions and thinking can elevate to focus on similarities, relativity, and
possibilities; rather than differences, gaps, and obstacles. While this value statement has
existed within the Universal Design community for quite some time, I had not personally
experienced the impacts so clearly and effectively as I had during the site visits.
In these uncertain economic times, corporations need differentiators to improve their
profitability. This can be achieved through increased productivity, focused engagement and
heightened creativity of their workforce. For quite some time, corporations have been
seeking ways to leverage the diversity of their workforce to improve business results and
innovative solutions. Workplace strategists, like myself, continue to emphasize the
strengths of flexibility and mobility in the workplace. They pair it with intentional design
such as open plan spaces, with creative layouts and easy access to technology tools. Based
on my experiences during these universal design tours, along with many follow-up
Increase
Equity in Use
of Place
Decreased
Dependence
and Negativity
8. Relaxed Sense of Place 6
discussions during the conference, I think we may be missing the mark by not also seeking
universal utility in addition to this flexibility and mobility.
Space usability is not about accessibility by reacting to ADA requirements. It is about
achieving the relaxed sense of place that enables the entire workforce to raise their focus
away from gaps and differences to higher level of thinking, to focus on relativity and new
ways to connect things together. As seen in the community tour, creating pockets of
accessibility by isolating ease of use to specific areas, will not be sufficient, to achieve the
required workplace cost efficiency and desired usability. As people shift locations or use
new technology tools, obstacles in the transition could result in the same rise of negative
emotions and squelch the positive emotions spatially created previously.
By using universal experience goals as a filter, corporations can develop intentional designs
to achieve workplace solutions that are cost effective but also support equitable use and
create that relaxed sense of place.
The desired universal experience goals will differ depending on the needs of the
organization, the maturity of their culture, and the nature of their business objectives. But,
the guiding principles for universal design are a sound road map to help corporations craft
design goals that mature and evolve naturally along with the organization. There are
9. Relaxed Sense of Place 7
several strong examples of well-designed spaces that one can tour to gain first-hand
experience to take back to the corporate workplace. I encourage you to visit
http://www.udinstitute.org for more information on Universal Design as well.
Equitable usability (not just accessibility) within the workplace has the strong potential to
positively impact the workforce, lifting the focus from negative to positive, from gaps to
opportunities and ultimately improve productivity and profitability. I believe that the next
evolution of the workplace strategy will need to effectively incorporate these principles of
equity to deliver the greatest value to the organization and it’s workforce.
For more information or if you would like to discuss this topic in greater depth, please
contact me at kim@spacematters.us.
Kim Vanderland
kim@spacematters.us
www.spacematters.us