Recipes for Systemic Change - Helsinki Design Lab

The HDL Studio Model87Strategic design as it is discussed in this book is a wayof working that informs both thinking and doing. AtSitra our interest is in using strategic design in serviceto society, particularly as a capability of 21st centurygovernments looking to increase their agility in theface of potentially transformative challenges. HelsinkiDesign Lab is Sitra’s learning engine for the methodsof strategic design, and HDL’s first concrete output isthe Studio Model. It is a specific process that benefitsfrom the attitude, approach and abilities of strategicdesign. The following How-To sections attempt todescribe the Studio in a way that makes it easy for youto adjust the model to your own needs and context.We hope it to be a flexible recipe.The way that you organize a Studio will be shaped by therealities of your own organization and the resources availableto you for this process. To make the best use of the followingchapters, take a minute to think about what resourcesare available to you, how you might use them and how thisrelates to your aims for the Studio. At Sitra we are lucky tohave access to stable funding, a wide network and a brandthat helps us to connect with new people and organizations.We think of this funding, network and reputation as thekey assets that enabled us to organize the HDL Studios in2010. Your organization will have a different balance of theseassets, which will naturally entail adjustments to the rules ofthumb summarized below.Having realistic expectations at the outset is essential.Success will look different based on the nature of yourinvestment in the Studio in terms of time, effort and money.Given enough time to prepare and a reasonable budget, youcan identify the right team, generate foresight and chart acourse of action to deliver strategic improvement. The Studiois designed to deliver outcomes, but the experience itself isalso capable of creating transformational learning opportunitieson an individual level. When funding is limited orthe preparatory timeline curtailed, the Studio is more likely