Presentation delivered at the UC Berkeley Human Rights conference, Advancing the New Machine, on UCLA Law Forum design.

1. People Are Opportunists...
...what looks like a chair to one
person in one circumstance, looks
a lot like a stepping stool to another...

2. Diffusion of
Innovation...
...is a story of opportunistic
behaviors among crowds from all
over the world to subvert
existing technologies to get
things done and accomplish the
desired goals.

3. The Job of a Product
Designer...
...is to tame these opportunistic
behaviors and to align them with
the goals of the project.

6. 1 + 2 + 3

7. Project’s Goals
• Moot the Issues of Interest to ICC OTP
• Foster Public Debate Between Parties
• Open Discussion to a Wide Audience
• Explore the Complexity of an Issue
• Provide Visibility for OTP Decisions

8. Project’s Benefits
• Highlights International Criminal Law Issues
• Presents the Relevant Legal Landscape
• Provides Visibility to OTP Policy Decisions
• Gives Voice to the Public & Creates a Community
• Vets the Issue in a Defined Timespan
These are ICC OTP Benefits

9. Level of Discussion
Darfur Debate
Forum Topic Chosen for Debate
Narrow Topic of Interest Creates a Small Group of Participants
Our Audience
Range of Discussion Topics

10. Level of Discussion
Darfur Debate
Forum Topic Chosen for Debate
Narrow Topic of Interest Creates a Small Group of Participants
Range of Discussion Topics
Our Audience
Passive Participation: “Readers Only”
Active Participation: “Writers”

11. What’s in It for the
Active Audience?

12. What’s in It for the
Active Audience?
• recognition/fame

13. What’s in It for the
Active Audience?
• recognition/fame
• record of position

14. What’s in It for the
Active Audience?
• recognition/fame
• record of position
• association with ICC and “top thinkers”

15. What’s in It for the
Active Audience?
• recognition/fame
• record of position
• association with ICC and “top thinkers”
• “do-gooders”

16. What’s in It for the
Active Audience?
• recognition/fame
• record of position
• association with ICC and “top thinkers”
• “do-gooders”
Need to Communicate Forum’s
Benefits to the Active Audience

17. What’s in It for the
Active Audience?
• recognition/fame
• record of position
• association with ICC and “top thinkers”
• “do-gooders”
Need to Create Support Structures
to Engage with the Audience

19. UCLAForum.com Approach
Frame the Issue
1. OTP Question Presented
2. Context of the Problem Given Through Detailed Description
3. Discussion is Anchored via Extensive Background Information

20. Process
Start with a
question... ?
Question

21. Process
Framing the Issue
and Developing
Background
Materials
The frame the
issue... ?
Question

23. UCLAForum.com Approach
Frame the Issue
1. OTP Question Presented
2. Context of the Problem Given Through Detailed Description
3. Discussion is Anchored via Extensive Background Information
Invited Experts
1. Invited Experts Present the Primary Legal Arguments
2. They Provide Multiple Points of View
3. And They Stimulate the Discussion

24. Process
s
ces
Pro
in t as
he
e
vol n of Id
Working with Invited Experts
ved
ual ibutio
Developing PR Materials for the
Public Debate Launch
s In
r
ndi r Dist
vid
e
Mo & Wid
re I
Framing the Issue
re a Wider
and Developing
nd
Background
Materials
Mo
Invite experts... ?
Question

25. UCLAForum.com Approach
Frame the Issue
1. OTP Question Presented
2. Context of the Problem Given Through Detailed Description
3. Discussion is Anchored via Extensive Background Information
Invited Experts
1. Invited Experts Present the Primary Legal Arguments
2. They Provide Multiple Points of View
3. And They Stimulate the Discussion
Community Discussion
1. Fosters a Dialogue with the Public
2. Explores the Issues Thoroughly
3. And Provides Visibility for a Wide Range of Opinions

27. Process Working with Public and Invited Experts
Continuously Marketing the Forum to News,
Academia, and Professional Organizations
s
ces
Pro
in t as
he
e
vol n of Id
Working with Invited Experts
ved
ual ibutio
Developing PR Materials for the
Public Debate Launch
s In
r
ndi r Dist
vid
e
Mo & Wid
re I
Framing the Issue
re a Wider
and Developing
nd
Background
Materials
Mo
Include the public &
market the issue... ?
Question

28. Process
Packaging & Publishing the Debate for Distribution to Libraries & Other Institutions
Working with Public and Invited Experts
Continuously Marketing the Forum to News,
Academia, and Professional Organizations
s
ces
Pro
in t as
he
e
vol n of Id
Working with Invited Experts
ved
ual ibutio
Developing PR Materials for the
Public Debate Launch
s In
r
ndi r Dist
vid
e
Mo & Wid
re I
Framing the Issue
re a Wider
and Developing
nd
Background
Materials
Mo
Distribute each
issue as a book... ?
Question

29. A Book Series is Planned

30. Level of Discussion
Darfur Debate
Forum Topic Chosen for Debate
Narrow Topic of Interest Creates a Small Group of Participants
Diffusion...
Range of Discussion Topics

31. Level of Discussion
Darfur Debate
Forum Topic Chosen for Debate
Narrow Topic of Interest Creates a Small Group of Participants
Range of Discussion Topics
Expand the Audience

32. Level of Discussion
Darfur Debate
Forum Topic Chosen for Debate
Narrow Topic of Interest Creates a Small Group of Participants
One Solution
Range of Discussion Topics
Expand the Topic & Lower the Level of Discussion

33. Level of Discussion
Darfur Debate
Forum Topic Chosen for Debate
Narrow Topic of Interest Creates a Small Group of Participants
Mini Issue
Another Solution
Multiple Topics of Discussion
Range of Discussion Topics

34. Level of Discussion
Darfur Debate
Forum Topic Chosen for Debate
Narrow Topic of Interest Creates a Small Group of Participants
Mini Issue
Another Solution
Multiple Topics of Discussion
Range of Discussion Topics

35. Level of Discussion
Darfur Debate
Forum Topic Chosen for Debate
Result
Narrow Topic of Interest Creates a Small Group of Participants
Mini Issue
Range of Discussion Topics
Over Time, More and More Participants

36. To Date...
• Launched the Gaza Debate in September 2010
• Gaza Experts’ Opinions: 32,000 words
• Gaza Public Comments: over 30,000 words
• Launched Darfur Genocide Arrest Debate in January 2011
• Darfur Experts’ Opinions: 28,000 words
• Darfur Public Comments: over 25,000 words
• Launching the Next Debate in April 2011