"Collective Learning"

I immediately recognized Josina Vink as a kindred spirit when I first heard them speak during a fishbowl dialogue between sessions at the Systemic Design Association's RSD13 Conference at The Oslo School of Architecture and Design this past October. They were being- what I like to call- "CMMish without knowing it." And now they know it!

Even as someone who was brand new to the world of systems thinking and design at the time, I could see that they were challenging some dominant narratives in the field, imploring all of us to rethink who systemic design is for and how we act into it. Josina spoke of a kind of design that was accessible to all and practiced in an embodied way in our everyday lives. 

What Josina is doing for systemic design, is what I hope to do for interpersonal communication. Of course, I had to hear more from them. So, I worked up the courage to go introduce myself. 

I mention that I was new to this world, and that this interaction required courage, because that was an important context shaping how I showed up at this conference. Initially, this context kept me quiet as I listened and learned- What kind of conference was this? Who is in charge? How do the people interact with each other? Where do I fit in? 

Somewhere along the way, someone offered the language of "Collective Learning" and it transformed the way I saw myself in that space. As I reflected on the value of my own perspective- even as someone inexperienced in this one field- I grew more confident and less timid. I have a lot to learn AND I have so much to offer, too! The emphasis on collective learning is what helped me to reframe the kind of dynamics and "rules" I was perceiving, to let go of any stories that told me the people I wanted to talk to were too important to talk to little old me, and to begin to speak from a place of confidence and certainty. 

This language has stuck with me and continues to shape how I am showing up in all the work I do. To me, there is a noticeable difference in how I was participating in the pre-conference podcast episodes I recorded and the post-conference episodes. I hope it's something you might hear in me too :)

I also hope you will hear in this conversation with Josina a true commitment to collective learning between the two of us. We are two curious people with lots of questions and lots of ideas about how we design, communicate, and live together as people. 

You can join our conversation here: https://www.storieslivedstoriestold.com/podcast/episode/81afacfa/on-nurturing-collective-reflexivity-in-design-with-josina-vink-or-ep-133

And please take a moment to add your own turn into the conversation by commenting here or under the episode on Substack! I've already offered one prompt for you in the show notes: "What agency can you identify in the systems you are in? And how can you use it to invite others to design with intention together?"