Recipes for Systemic Change - Helsinki Design Lab

102The HDL Studio Modelconversation about sustainability, it is probably not the mostrelevant. The X-factor works best with someone who has ademonstrated commitment to the Studio theme even if theireveryday work does not overlap with it 100%. One’s expertiseoften stretches beyond the words on their business card.The Right PeopleIndividuals are multifaceted and play many roles in theirlives. The totality of an individual’s experience and identityshould be considered when building the team. It might be difficultto balance factors such as age and gender while lookingfor individuals with a particular expertise, but the results ofdoing so are worth the effort. It is also worth underscoringthe importance of including one or two younger memberson the team. Beyond adding a youthful energy, includingupcoming leaders in the Studio is an investment in the futureof society’s ability to think holistically.Having team members who come from different culturalbackgrounds and generations builds a useful edge of ignoranceinto the team. Being an outsider can be helpful becauseit gives an individual the freedom to see the peculiarities ofthe situation and ask questions that members of the cultureor generation under consideration are blind to.The Right AttitudeWhile one might be able to judge an individual's expertiseby browsing a CV and reading some of their publications, itis very difficult to assess whether an individual will work wellas part of a team until you share a conversation. Meeting inperson is always preferred, but a phone call is a good start, ora recommendation from a trusted friend.One useful indicator of an individual’s ability to functionwell in a Studio is significant experience in other cultures,whether geographical or professional. Given a choice betweenan expert in astrophysics and an expert in astrophysics witha previous background in agriculture, our bet is on the latter.There is something about having lived or worked in multiplecultures and contexts that prepares an individual for the kindof lateral thinking that is required in an HDL Studio.