Author Archives: Sarah Kear

Mash-Up Saviours

The Civic Economy breaks down the traditional silos of the Business, Government, and Charitable (or Voluntary) Sectors.

Mash Ups that blur the lines between the public, private and the voluntary sector could hold the key to a brand new kind of economic order. This is the civic economy. “It is both fundamentally open and social. It’s an economy which is fusing the culture of Web 2.0 with civic purpose.” Continue reading →

Green Hopes in the Garbage

What's the best way to get people back to work? The WPA was America's answer in the 1930s.

What kind of small businesses can be created from one of humanity’s most plentiful resources – garbage and waste? Here’s my list. What other great businesses have you come across? Continue reading →

Ron Dembo on Risk Thinking & Green Business

Sometimes hedging your bets is the best way to address a problem.

What do different types of risk have to do with the way we respond to complex issues such as climate change? Ron Dembo of Zerofootprint advises that a Hedge strategy rather than a Prescriptive strategy is the smartest way to go. Continue reading →

Yikes! 360 Degrees of Sustainable Design

The Penny Farthing

Sustainable design should be synonymous with Great design. Take the Yike Bike for example. . . Continue reading →

Engagement 2.0: Tummelling

A tummeler is an old Yiddish word that means "noisemaker". Nowadays, it's all about engaging people in a networked age.

What do Yiddish noisemakers have to do with a new age of Engagement? I’m going to find out at OCAD this week. Continue reading →

Using Design Thinking in a Workshop

How does innovation happen?

Innovation is a creative idea brought to life in a novel way. But in between the two, what do you actually do? Design Thinking is a great way to make a bridge between idea and action. Here’s one example of how to use it in a workshop setting. Continue reading →

Using Appreciative Inquiry in a Workshop

Appreciative Inquiry helps teams focus on what is possibl

I have had the pleasure of working with several social entrepreneurs at the start-up phase of their development. Banyan Tree was one of them. I used an Appreciative Inquiry approach to help them Discover the best of their prior experiences, Dream their vision, and Design their roadmap. Continue reading →

Full Inclusion: Human Centred Design

The Hippo Roller allows women and children to fetch water without breaking their backs.

Can human centred design be a form of imperialism? If it is not used as a tool for capacity building, yes! Continue reading →

Riding Your Elephant Part II: Examples of Change in the Apparel Industry

Riding Your Elephant Part II: Examples of Change in the Apparel Industry

Chip and Dan Heath’s Switch Framework lays out a simple but effective method for any change initiative. Here I illustrate their concept -directing the Rider, motivating the Elephant and shaping the Path – with examples from the apparel industry. Continue reading →

Riding Your Elephant Part I: A Primer on Making Change

With so much choice it's easy to spin your wheels in over-analysis.

According to the Chip and Dan Heath in their new book, Switch, for change efforts to be successful, you’ve got to appeal to the instinctive and emotional Elephant, the reflective and rational Rider, and you’ve got to clear a Path to make it easier for them to take their journey. Continue reading →