Recipes for Systemic Change - Helsinki Design Lab

118The HDL Studio Modelcontributions. In our experience, it works well if the DesignLead begins the presentation by explaining the strategicframework, the team members speak about each of the actionareas, and then the Design Lead comes back at the end for thewrap-up.The presentation needs to share how the Studio definesthe challenge, what opportunities they see, what barriers theyperceive, and then outline a collection of possible actions thatcoalesce into a ‘road map’ of strategic improvement. This isthe synthesized outcome of their week together and it may beaccompanied by slides, videos, whiteboard drawings, handoutsor any other medium the Studio team see fit to use.The best review discussions are lively andconversational. Prep your guests by askingthem to avoid prepared remarks and to engagethe presentation material, the studio team, andeach other.Focus on the ConversationThe formal presentation might be thoughtof as a menu of possible conversations which theguests can then choose from. As the presentationconcludes, the group transitions into discussion.This is a moment where the specific nature ofthe physical space is very important. Once theformal presentation is over, the presenters shouldsit down so that a conversation among peers canflow easily. Pedestals, presenter’s tables or otherbarriers in between the Studio team and theirinvited guests create a formal interaction that istoo rigid. The more seamlessly you can transitionfrom presentation to conversation the better.The worst mistake you can make after apresentation is to leave too little time for discussion, reducingany emergent dialogue to platitudes and clarifications. Sincethe collaborative evolution of ideas during conversation isthe focus in these review sessions, be sure to leave ample timeto discuss. We try to make room for 60-90 after the review,which is just about enough to process some of the new knowledgewhich has been shared by the team.Shift GearsAfter a good stretch of discussion following the presentation,it can be useful to transition again from the review toa meal that allows the conversation to continue in a morecasual setting, encouraging everyone to open up a bit. Thisis often when some of the more fringe—and therefore mostinteresting—opportunities are revisited.In the case of our 2010 Studios we catered dinner in theStudio space itself to make the transition as easy as possible.This gave the Studio team, the invited guests and the HDL/