architecture

Systems of Influence: The Hidden Forces Shaping What We Do

July 30, 2020 Cameron D. Norman 187 Views 2 Comments architecture, behaviour change, covid-19, design, health, motivation, psychology, systemic design, systems thinking, urbanism

Staying safe is about understanding systems that affect our choices, not just individuals. We need to design systems better if we want real change to take place.

art & design complexity innovation social innovation systems science systems thinking

Seeking simplicity among complexity? Go Dutch!

April 7, 2017April 8, 2017 Cameron D. Norman 539 Views architecture, beauty, complexity, design, Dutch design, Holland, information design, information overload, information technology, innovation, organizational aesthetics, Steven De Groot, systems thinking, the Netherlands

In a world awash in content and the resulting complexity that comes when it all intersects the viable options for

education & learning evaluation

Reflections said, not done

May 27, 2016 Cameron D. Norman 311 Views architecture, complexity, design, design thinking, developmental design, developmental evaluation, evaluation, learning, mindfulness, reflection, reflective practice, space

Reflective practice is the cornerstone of developmental evaluation and organizational learning and yet is one of the least discussed

art & design design thinking food systems social systems systems thinking

“If You Build It..”: A Reflection on A Social Innovation Story

February 10, 2014February 10, 2014 Cameron D. Norman 779 Views architecture, community engagement, design, design thinking, education, Emily Pilloton, evaluation, Hart's Ladder of Participation, learning, social impact, social innovation, youth engagement

If You Build it is documentary about a social innovation project aimed at cultivating design skills with youth to tackle

design thinking food systems public health social systems systems science systems thinking

Systems and Design Thinking Go to the Ballpark

September 18, 2013September 19, 2013 Cameron D. Norman 315 Views architecture, baseball, Boston, Boston Red Sox, boundaries, design, design thinking, Fenway Park, obesity, psychology, public health, social determinants of health, systems thinking, Yoni Freedhoff

A recent trip to baseball’s legendary Fenway Park provided the ideal example of understanding systems and how they can create public health problems like obesity through structural means. Being aware of these systems, their boundaries, and their activities can help us better find the causes of individual activity by looking at what encourages behaviour not just what people do.

art & design complexity journalism science & technology systems science

300: Crises in Complexity, Opportunities in Design

August 31, 2013August 31, 2013 Cameron D. Norman 377 Views architecture, blogging, complexity, design, design for emergence, developmental design, developmental evaluation, emergence, Globe and Mail, Hannah Montana, maker culture, making-meaning, media, Miley Cyrus, Monocle, MTV Music Video Awards, music, Nautilus Magazine, newspapers, policy, Robin Thicke, science, social media, The Alpine Review, Vi Hart, weak signals, wicked problem

In 2009 Censemaking was launched as a platform to explore issues in complexity and ways we can make sense of

art & design environment public health

Design Space in Public Health

August 1, 2013August 1, 2013 Cameron D. Norman 362 Views AC4D, Andrew Dannenberg, Andrew Shea, Arcade magazine, architecture, book, built environment, design, designer, Emily Pilloton, graphic design, Howard Frumpkin, IDEO, Jon Kolko, public health, wicked problems

If design is everywhere humans are and shapes our interactions in the built environment, which dictates how we interact with

art & design design thinking environment innovation

Design / Time

July 11, 2013 Cameron D. Norman 413 Views architecture, Calgary, Calgary Flames, Canada, design, design charrette, design thinking, Finland, Helsinki, innovation, Italy, rapid prototyping, Rome, Saddledome, social innovation, sustainable development, Toronto

Design’s relationship with space is complex and well documented in the literature on architecture, interior design, and product innovation. The

art & design innovation

Designing Creative Spaces for Learning

October 21, 2012October 21, 2012 Cameron D. Norman 286 Views architecture, creativity, design, Keith Sawyer

Keith Sawyer’s latest post provides a terrific introduction to a new series coming on the design of learning that I’ll

art & design design thinking health promotion innovation social systems

Designing for Innovation: The Role of Time and Space

February 28, 2011 Cameron D. Norman 653 Views architecture, design, innovation, space, time

The language of design is geared towards birthing products and services, but rarely about their sustainability and life over time. What else might move the dialogue from studio to ecosystem?