19 Points of Connection – Finding the ideal environment for happy humans

“We know a lot about the ideal environment for a happy whale or a happy mountain gorilla. We’re far less clear about what constitutes an ideal environment for a happy human being.”– Enrique Peñalosa

This intriguing, hands-on Melbourne Fringe Festival event considers how we piece together the ideal environment for happy humans.

Be prepared to think, listen, contribute and decide.

18th, 20th & 26th September, 6pm

City of Melbourne Bowls Club
Flagstaff Gardens, Dudley St, West Melbourne

Tickets on sale now!
Adult $23 / Conc $20
To book; 03 9660 9666 or melbournefringe.com.au
Book early – only 30 tickets per show

For more info, check here or, facebook.com/19pointsofconnection

One Day Wonder Learnings

One Day Wonder

The One Day Wonder was held last October, but I have only just got around to typing up the responses to the Round Robin Question at the end:

“What have you learned?”

After listing answers and passing the sheets around, a different group had to identify the KEY LEARNING from those on the sheet. These have been high-lighted below. I have found value in all these answers:

  •  Pre-planning is so important
  • Technologies (graphic recording & imeet) can be tools to be used wisely and appropriately
  • A reminder of some great techniques
  • The power of the circle
  • The wisdom of combined knowledge
  • If something was successful, you don’t have to try and recreate it – other situations may not be appropriate
  • Embrace the scary stuff
  • Facilitation – Ethics & Process comes before tools
  • Good graphic icons
  • We are on the same page even if we look different.
  • Drop shadow bullet points
  • Future uses on technology in facilitation
  • Different learning styles including movement
  • Lots of people are doing lots of interesting stuff
  • Physical movement can shift your thinking
  • Importance of hanging our with like minded people
  • Who introduces the facilitator – asserting independence and authority of facilitator
  • Insight into new processes
  • More tools, techniques, tips and tricks
  • How to sort out hot spots – sort the problem out as a group
  • Importance of reflective practice
  • First facilitate thyself
  • Regardless of technology, good facilitation is paramount
  • Naming whats happening brings us into the present, and together as a group
  • Directing the process, not controlling people
  • The value of graphics in reporting – how to draw symbols
  • Lots of people with common human themes
  • Our fears are similar
  • Can exclude people without being aware
  • New processes for evaluation
  • Begin with the end in mind…hmmm
  • Different approaches to conveying ideas
  • Background and context to debates about facilitation
  • Importance of time to reflect on facilitation
  • Recognition of alternative viewpoints and styles
  • Time to be a participant
  • Different groups all have something to bring
  • The comfort and smugness we get in a group of people like us
  • How nurturing and challenging a enriching to be in a group of facilitators
  • Awareness of diversity – intent is not enough to prevent exclusion
  • New ways of looking a familier exercises
  • Impact of fear on my facilitation style
  • About my facilitation style and how to improve it
  • I can DRAW well enough to give graphic facilitation a go
  • My confidence and facilitation skills have come a long way in the last 2yrs
  • We all want and need to be heard
  • Affirmed and consolidated my learnings as much as I learn, there’s always more
  • Learnt to scribe! And a way to improve my handwriting
  • Importance of maintaining independance (and how to do it)
  • How to improve my ability to listen
  • Co-facilitation skills
  • Importance of clarity in contracting
  • Most people here are fascinating.. And friendly and generous
  • Learned to use the lichard scale on the floor
  • Community of selves model
  • The strength of accepting rather than resisting
  • Identifying what you fear and where you feel it in your body
  • Skills, Knowledge,Attitude Tools
  • Effectiveness of visual depiction
  • Anyone can draw – need imagination and skill to capture
  • Images need context
  • People are working in lots of places and areas in Victoria
  • Facilitatators come from lots of backgrounds
  • Reminded of the importance of things we already know
  • Facilitators are ‘over’ defining facilitation – They have moved from ‘becoming’ to ‘belonging’
  • Wordsmithing is tedious and very difficult
  • Facilitators are engaged from start
  • Pre contractural planning
  • There are many talented people in this room
  • Don’t be introduced
  • Community of selves
  • Doing v Being
  • The importance of not being introduced at start by senior manager
  • Working with fear ‘Red riding Hood’s bad way’ – analysing fears via. Fairy tale analysis
  • Freedom to say ‘no’ to work or aspects – or challenge premises, negotiate
  • What is subconscious comes out in symbols
  • Being amongst nurturing community of facilitators
  • Diversity – beware of stereotyping, mindless exclusion. Physical energy

Frameworks for Creativity Part 1

Precedents for Change

Part 1 of an electronic triptych. This first part of Frameworks for Creativity looks at the relationship between culture, technology and cities within an historical context. Through a series of ‘snapshots’ taken at 1800, 1900 and 2000 it proposes that there is the potential for significant change ocurring in the future.

Frameworks for Creativity Part 2

Structural Frameworks

This second part looks at the emergence of the creative frameworks concept as a componant of modern culture. This is identified through the work of theorists such as Raynor Banham, Archigram and Ant Farm and their analysis of consumer industrial culture and the built environment in the 1960’s. This being prior to broad scale acknowledgement of environmental limits to this culture, thus provides a ‘pure’ consideration of it’s benefits and achievements.

Frameworks for Creativity Part 3

Cultural Frameworks

In Part 3 of Frameworks for Creativity I extrapolate on the concept of physical frameworks that are created as part of consumer culture that enable control, choice and opportunities for creativity. In this last part I look at the emerging digital framework as an opportunity to enable dialogue and deliberation leading to creativity on an even wider scale than exists today.