so three years ago I was sitting at my drafting desk pretty resentful about
drafting desk pretty resentful about
drafting desk pretty resentful about being a designer and the reasons for
being a designer and the reasons for
being a designer and the reasons for that they’re not really important right
that they’re not really important right
that they’re not really important right now
now
now but they are the catalysts for about
but they are the catalysts for about
but they are the catalysts for about everything I’m about to talk to you
everything I’m about to talk to you
everything I’m about to talk to you about today so I’m not sure how many of
about today so I’m not sure how many of
about today so I’m not sure how many of you know about designers but in my
you know about designers but in my
you know about designers but in my experience
experience
experience we’re often seen as these unicorns that
we’re often seen as these unicorns that
we’re often seen as these unicorns that go off into this world of Awesome and we
go off into this world of Awesome and we
go off into this world of Awesome and we come back in less than 24 hours with
come back in less than 24 hours with
come back in less than 24 hours with this brilliant market changing idea and
this brilliant market changing idea and
this brilliant market changing idea and while I so wish that was true because it
while I so wish that was true because it
while I so wish that was true because it would have made my life a lot easier
would have made my life a lot easier
would have made my life a lot easier the truth is that it’s just an urban
the truth is that it’s just an urban
the truth is that it’s just an urban myth and I’m convinced that unicorns
myth and I’m convinced that unicorns
myth and I’m convinced that unicorns started it
started it
started it hmm what we really are actually our
hmm what we really are actually our
hmm what we really are actually our specific type of problem solvers that
specific type of problem solvers that
specific type of problem solvers that put the humans at the center of
put the humans at the center of
put the humans at the center of everything we do so regardless of
everything we do so regardless of
everything we do so regardless of whether you’re a graphic designer or
whether you’re a graphic designer or
whether you’re a graphic designer or you’re a product designer or you’re a
you’re a product designer or you’re a
you’re a product designer or you’re a user experience designer your job is to
user experience designer your job is to
user experience designer your job is to put the human in the solution for the
put the human in the solution for the
put the human in the solution for the need of the human at the end of the day
need of the human at the end of the day
need of the human at the end of the day so let me tell you the real truth about
so let me tell you the real truth about
so let me tell you the real truth about designers this is the best part
designers this is the best part
designers this is the best part we spend a majority of our time being
we spend a majority of our time being
we spend a majority of our time being insecure angsty and lamenting our
insecure angsty and lamenting our
insecure angsty and lamenting our perceived lack of talent and purpose on
perceived lack of talent and purpose on
perceived lack of talent and purpose on the planet Earth hence my drafting board
the planet Earth hence my drafting board
the planet Earth hence my drafting board three years ago so I figured in order to
three years ago so I figured in order to
three years ago so I figured in order to move the needle whatever it is that I
move the needle whatever it is that I
move the needle whatever it is that I was going through I was gonna have to
was going through I was gonna have to
was going through I was gonna have to put me at the center of this solution
put me at the center of this solution
put me at the center of this solution and the solution I designed a solution
and the solution I designed a solution
and the solution I designed a solution that I determined oh it’s not that was
that I determined oh it’s not that was
that I determined oh it’s not that was this the design research I decided that
this the design research I decided that
this the design research I decided that my decision was I was going to create a
my decision was I was going to create a
my decision was I was going to create a manifesto so three months and a bunch of
manifesto so three months and a bunch of
manifesto so three months and a bunch of philosophical ramblings later I ended up
philosophical ramblings later I ended up
philosophical ramblings later I ended up with my masterpiece it was a piece of
with my masterpiece it was a piece of
with my masterpiece it was a piece of paper that had absolutely nothing on it
paper that had absolutely nothing on it
paper that had absolutely nothing on it and so at this point I was deeply
and so at this point I was deeply
and so at this point I was deeply disturbed and I was kind of done with
disturbed and I was kind of done with
disturbed and I was kind of done with being a designer I quit I was done boom
and it wasn’t until I heard a voice in
and it wasn’t until I heard a voice in my head that said Nicole design for joy
my head that said Nicole design for joy
my head that said Nicole design for joy and well I’m not a proponent of
and well I’m not a proponent of
and well I’m not a proponent of listening to voices in your head because
listening to voices in your head because
listening to voices in your head because sometimes they don’t always pan out I
sometimes they don’t always pan out I
sometimes they don’t always pan out I did have the wherewithal to write these
did have the wherewithal to write these
did have the wherewithal to write these words down design for joy and I got
words down design for joy and I got
words down design for joy and I got inspired which is great for a designer
inspired which is great for a designer
inspired which is great for a designer because being inspired means we actually
because being inspired means we actually
because being inspired means we actually are ready to design and so what I did as
are ready to design and so what I did as
are ready to design and so what I did as I walked out and I said I’m gonna design
I walked out and I said I’m gonna design
I walked out and I said I’m gonna design the joy I want to see in the world and
the joy I want to see in the world and
the joy I want to see in the world and everything I did was moving towards
everything I did was moving towards
everything I did was moving towards end-user sensory happiness and you know
end-user sensory happiness and you know
end-user sensory happiness and you know what I realized that’s not even close to
what I realized that’s not even close to
what I realized that’s not even close to what design for 20 minutes I’ll tell you
what design for 20 minutes I’ll tell you
what design for 20 minutes I’ll tell you what it partly meant it meant that one
what it partly meant it meant that one
what it partly meant it meant that one must do rebellious acts in the context
must do rebellious acts in the context
must do rebellious acts in the context of our gifts and talents and for the
of our gifts and talents and for the
of our gifts and talents and for the record it has nothing to do with
record it has nothing to do with
record it has nothing to do with happiness and everything to do with
happiness and everything to do with
happiness and everything to do with ambiguity you see I’ve been a designer
ambiguity you see I’ve been a designer
ambiguity you see I’ve been a designer for a long time and I’ve worked on
for a long time and I’ve worked on
for a long time and I’ve worked on incredible projects and met some amazing
incredible projects and met some amazing
incredible projects and met some amazing people but what I realized was actually
people but what I realized was actually
people but what I realized was actually what I was learning how all the pieces
what I was learning how all the pieces
what I was learning how all the pieces come together to create the whole and I
come together to create the whole and I
come together to create the whole and I realized I was actually the observer and
realized I was actually the observer and
realized I was actually the observer and not a participant and what I was being
not a participant and what I was being
not a participant and what I was being asked to do
I was being asked to look at the things
I was being asked to look at the things that I designed and how much they
that I designed and how much they
that I designed and how much they created to the clutter so it didn’t
created to the clutter so it didn’t
created to the clutter so it didn’t matter what kind of fonts I use or kind
matter what kind of fonts I use or kind
matter what kind of fonts I use or kind of color palettes I chose what mattered
of color palettes I chose what mattered
of color palettes I chose what mattered was the fact that I was now being asked
was the fact that I was now being asked
was the fact that I was now being asked to have a reconciliation with my soul
to have a reconciliation with my soul
to have a reconciliation with my soul and I was being asked to join a larger
and I was being asked to join a larger
and I was being asked to join a larger narrative in which I was now in service
narrative in which I was now in service
narrative in which I was now in service to inspiring human potential so design
to inspiring human potential so design
to inspiring human potential so design for joy is about awakening a rebel
for joy is about awakening a rebel
for joy is about awakening a rebel spirit that’s when all of us it’s lying
spirit that’s when all of us it’s lying
spirit that’s when all of us it’s lying dormant there and we just need to take a
dormant there and we just need to take a
dormant there and we just need to take a look at it and so now I had a chance to
look at it and so now I had a chance to
look at it and so now I had a chance to look at what that rebel spirit would
look at what that rebel spirit would
look at what that rebel spirit would look like in an all great designer
look like in an all great designer
look like in an all great designer fashion I decided t-shirt actually not
fashion I decided t-shirt actually not
fashion I decided t-shirt actually not really
really
really I actually just tried on something
I actually just tried on something
I actually just tried on something called designer 2.0 but when I figured
called designer 2.0 but when I figured
called designer 2.0 but when I figured out what designer 2.0 is it’s the design
out what designer 2.0 is it’s the design
out what designer 2.0 is it’s the design and shifting of systems like how humans
and shifting of systems like how humans
and shifting of systems like how humans interact with the world around us
interact with the world around us
interact with the world around us everything from policy to poverty from
everything from policy to poverty from
everything from policy to poverty from food insecurity education you know that
food insecurity education you know that
food insecurity education you know that anxiety I was talking about and I just
anxiety I was talking about and I just
anxiety I was talking about and I just had earlier yeah whole new level we’re
had earlier yeah whole new level we’re
had earlier yeah whole new level we’re talking big I innovation at this point
talking big I innovation at this point
talking big I innovation at this point and in my experience no one wants it
and in my experience no one wants it
and in my experience no one wants it true innovation especially in
true innovation especially in
true innovation especially in organizations you know why because
organizations you know why because
organizations you know why because that’s where the accountants live and
that’s where the accountants live and
that’s where the accountants live and accountants if you haven’t figured it
accountants if you haven’t figured it
accountants if you haven’t figured it out right now
out right now
out right now they kind of rule the world here’s the
they kind of rule the world here’s the
they kind of rule the world here’s the other thing about innovation if you
other thing about innovation if you
other thing about innovation if you don’t know about it it’s super messy and
don’t know about it it’s super messy and
don’t know about it it’s super messy and no one ever likes a mess especially the
no one ever likes a mess especially the
no one ever likes a mess especially the accountants in fact the only people that
accountants in fact the only people that
accountants in fact the only people that can really handle the mess are the
can really handle the mess are the
can really handle the mess are the rebels and here’s the crazy thing about
rebels and here’s the crazy thing about
rebels and here’s the crazy thing about that’s you know why most people want to
that’s you know why most people want to
that’s you know why most people want to work and hire rebels but the thing is as
work and hire rebels but the thing is as
work and hire rebels but the thing is as soon as a rebel starts to make their
soon as a rebel starts to make their
soon as a rebel starts to make their mess they’re out of there
mess they’re out of there
mess they’re out of there so most rebels don’t want a short term
so most rebels don’t want a short term
so most rebels don’t want a short term stint on your orgs innovation team in
stint on your orgs innovation team in
stint on your orgs innovation team in fact they end up becoming the
fact they end up becoming the
fact they end up becoming the entrepreneurs and outliers and that was
entrepreneurs and outliers and that was
entrepreneurs and outliers and that was my story that was my story and in that
my story that was my story and in that
my story that was my story and in that shell and I had no desire to stick
shell and I had no desire to stick
shell and I had no desire to stick myself back into the line of fire of
myself back into the line of fire of
myself back into the line of fire of ridicule and rejection not even close
ridicule and rejection not even close
ridicule and rejection not even close but you know this whisper it seemed to
but you know this whisper it seemed to
but you know this whisper it seemed to know what it was doing so it
know what it was doing so it
know what it was doing so it asked me to take a look at something
asked me to take a look at something
asked me to take a look at something that I realized I had been thematically
that I realized I had been thematically
that I realized I had been thematically for the better part of my life an artist
for the better part of my life an artist
for the better part of my life an artist raised by accountants and what I
raised by accountants and what I
raised by accountants and what I realized is that I was exhausted with
realized is that I was exhausted with
realized is that I was exhausted with sticking my self my life into a ledger
sticking my self my life into a ledger
sticking my self my life into a ledger item but the most dramatic part for me
item but the most dramatic part for me
item but the most dramatic part for me was this I realized that a sadness
was this I realized that a sadness
was this I realized that a sadness washed over me when I recognized that
washed over me when I recognized that
washed over me when I recognized that all that energy that I had used could
all that energy that I had used could
all that energy that I had used could have been going into systems and
have been going into systems and
have been going into systems and solutions that could have helped a lot
solutions that could have helped a lot
solutions that could have helped a lot of people but instead I used it to
of people but instead I used it to
of people but instead I used it to design a box around myself and my
design a box around myself and my
design a box around myself and my potential and never was able to show the
potential and never was able to show the
potential and never was able to show the world my true valor so I had to take a
world my true valor so I had to take a
world my true valor so I had to take a rebellious act I had to bust out of this
rebellious act I had to bust out of this
rebellious act I had to bust out of this box and it was when I started to bet on
box and it was when I started to bet on
box and it was when I started to bet on my gifts and my talents that things
my gifts and my talents that things
my gifts and my talents that things started to her matically changed you see
started to her matically changed you see
started to her matically changed you see here’s what I learned
here’s what I learned
here’s what I learned truths rebels are driven by a higher
truths rebels are driven by a higher
truths rebels are driven by a higher calling and contrary to popular belief
calling and contrary to popular belief
calling and contrary to popular belief we are not uncover Noble and we are not
we are not uncover Noble and we are not
we are not uncover Noble and we are not self-destructive what we are is we have
self-destructive what we are is we have
self-destructive what we are is we have a cause and we’re not afraid to use that
a cause and we’re not afraid to use that
a cause and we’re not afraid to use that to inspire all you the populace to tear
to inspire all you the populace to tear
to inspire all you the populace to tear things down with our gifts think about
things down with our gifts think about
things down with our gifts think about that and rebels are part of a larger
that and rebels are part of a larger
that and rebels are part of a larger change ecosystem and contrary to popular
change ecosystem and contrary to popular
change ecosystem and contrary to popular belief we are not lone wolves in fact we
belief we are not lone wolves in fact we
belief we are not lone wolves in fact we have a partner on the inside you know
have a partner on the inside you know
have a partner on the inside you know what they’re called they’re called the
what they’re called they’re called the
what they’re called they’re called the Maverick Mavericks that’s the ticket
Maverick Mavericks that’s the ticket
Maverick Mavericks that’s the ticket Mavericks are mature warriors and they
Mavericks are mature warriors and they
Mavericks are mature warriors and they understand the raw power of the rebel
understand the raw power of the rebel
understand the raw power of the rebel they’re able to take the rebels
they’re able to take the rebels
they’re able to take the rebels revolution and transmute it into
revolution and transmute it into
revolution and transmute it into powerful innovations to transform
powerful innovations to transform
powerful innovations to transform systems from within Mavericks have the
systems from within Mavericks have the
systems from within Mavericks have the gifts and the influences to bring
gifts and the influences to bring
gifts and the influences to bring radical ideas to status quo systems and
radical ideas to status quo systems and
radical ideas to status quo systems and make change and every maverick knows if
make change and every maverick knows if
make change and every maverick knows if they’re smart they’re brave enough to go
they’re smart they’re brave enough to go
they’re smart they’re brave enough to go find the rebels with the game-changing
find the rebels with the game-changing
find the rebels with the game-changing ideas so is that simple I just had to go
ideas so is that simple I just had to go
ideas so is that simple I just had to go find America and I could be a rebel yeah
find America and I could be a rebel yeah
find America and I could be a rebel yeah yeah yeah
yeah yeah
yeah yeah no no so this is the next thing I had to
no no so this is the next thing I had to
no no so this is the next thing I had to learn what I actually was trying to find
learn what I actually was trying to find
learn what I actually was trying to find was a system that had all the pieces in
was a system that had all the pieces in
was a system that had all the pieces in place and it needed a catalyst okay why
place and it needed a catalyst okay why
place and it needed a catalyst okay why because we’re talking innovation here
because we’re talking innovation here
because we’re talking innovation here and if the timing of your innovation is
and if the timing of your innovation is
and if the timing of your innovation is off you will not be able to align the
off you will not be able to align the
off you will not be able to align the resources or the talent in a way that
resources or the talent in a way that
resources or the talent in a way that your system can handle volatility and
your system can handle volatility and
your system can handle volatility and I’m gonna tell you something the most
I’m gonna tell you something the most
I’m gonna tell you something the most volatile the most volatile force in the
volatile the most volatile force in the
volatile the most volatile force in the world is creativity and you know the
world is creativity and you know the
world is creativity and you know the fuse that the level writes the Revel of
fuse that the level writes the Revel of
fuse that the level writes the Revel of place is creativity so your system
place is creativity so your system
place is creativity so your system better be ready so here’s the thing
I then realized I could go light a fuse
I then realized I could go light a fuse but I didn’t really have a cause to
but I didn’t really have a cause to
but I didn’t really have a cause to light for so though the only thing I was
light for so though the only thing I was
light for so though the only thing I was gonna do was blow up my own life and
gonna do was blow up my own life and
gonna do was blow up my own life and while you know what rebels are cool at
while you know what rebels are cool at
while you know what rebels are cool at doing that I was getting a little too
doing that I was getting a little too
doing that I was getting a little too old to clean up those types of messes
old to clean up those types of messes
old to clean up those types of messes but you know what that was figured out
but you know what that was figured out
but you know what that was figured out for me about a year ago I had the
for me about a year ago I had the
for me about a year ago I had the opportunity to join Georgian College at
opportunity to join Georgian College at
opportunity to join Georgian College at the Center for social innovation see
the Center for social innovation see
the Center for social innovation see Georgian was well on its way to joining
Georgian was well on its way to joining
Georgian was well on its way to joining Laurier as an Ashoka changemaker campus
Laurier as an Ashoka changemaker campus
Laurier as an Ashoka changemaker campus and we had a talented team of change
and we had a talented team of change
and we had a talented team of change leaders that were doing a full systemic
leaders that were doing a full systemic
leaders that were doing a full systemic reboot and the great thing about this is
reboot and the great thing about this is
reboot and the great thing about this is when Georgian was finished it was going
when Georgian was finished it was going
when Georgian was finished it was going to be the first Canadian college to join
to be the first Canadian college to join
to be the first Canadian college to join an international cohort of leaders in
an international cohort of leaders in
an international cohort of leaders in social innovation and change making but
social innovation and change making but
social innovation and change making but the best was the Ashoka definition of
the best was the Ashoka definition of
the best was the Ashoka definition of what needs to be a change maker one who
what needs to be a change maker one who
what needs to be a change maker one who desires change in the world and goes
desires change in the world and goes
desires change in the world and goes after there’s the knowledge and the
after there’s the knowledge and the
after there’s the knowledge and the resources to make that change happen I
resources to make that change happen I
resources to make that change happen I found my cause and I also found a place
found my cause and I also found a place
found my cause and I also found a place to participate and stand for something
to participate and stand for something
to participate and stand for something greater than myself so what did my
greater than myself so what did my
greater than myself so what did my designer 2.0 really look like it looked
designer 2.0 really look like it looked
designer 2.0 really look like it looked like this me standing in front of a
like this me standing in front of a
like this me standing in front of a bunch of students who are going to be
bunch of students who are going to be
bunch of students who are going to be our future leaders in the not-for-profit
our future leaders in the not-for-profit
our future leaders in the not-for-profit sector and my purpose was to give them
sector and my purpose was to give them
sector and my purpose was to give them my resources which was what happens when
my resources which was what happens when
my resources which was what happens when you put yourself the artist into a box
you put yourself the artist into a box
you put yourself the artist into a box with accounting ideals and what it takes
with accounting ideals and what it takes
with accounting ideals and what it takes to break you out of that and my
to break you out of that and my
to break you out of that and my knowledge my breadth of my creative
knowledge my breadth of my creative
knowledge my breadth of my creative toolkit and what it means to use that to
toolkit and what it means to use that to
toolkit and what it means to use that to express your rebel cause
so now you remember what I said about
so now you remember what I said about designers always putting humans at the
designers always putting humans at the
designers always putting humans at the center of that solution but guess what
center of that solution but guess what
center of that solution but guess what designer 2.0 my role is now to design
designer 2.0 my role is now to design
designer 2.0 my role is now to design the space for future changemakers my
the space for future changemakers my
the space for future changemakers my role is to incubate and empower those to
role is to incubate and empower those to
role is to incubate and empower those to spark the creative force within and it
spark the creative force within and it
spark the creative force within and it was at this moment this very moment I
was at this moment this very moment I
was at this moment this very moment I finally got it I finally understood what
finally got it I finally understood what
finally got it I finally understood what design for joy meant it’s a set of
design for joy meant it’s a set of
design for joy meant it’s a set of assembly instructions you see it’s not
assembly instructions you see it’s not
assembly instructions you see it’s not about whether I use a control bottom
about whether I use a control bottom
about whether I use a control bottom line framework for my social enterprise
line framework for my social enterprise
line framework for my social enterprise and it’s not about whether I pick
and it’s not about whether I pick
and it’s not about whether I pick Helvetica as my font and it’s not about
Helvetica as my font and it’s not about
Helvetica as my font and it’s not about the practical materials that I use to
the practical materials that I use to
the practical materials that I use to build my product what it’s about is how
build my product what it’s about is how
build my product what it’s about is how we align the human potential to power
we align the human potential to power
we align the human potential to power the change and the tool that does that
the change and the tool that does that
the change and the tool that does that is creativity design for joy is how the
is creativity design for joy is how the
is creativity design for joy is how the process of creativity flows through a
process of creativity flows through a
process of creativity flows through a system that’s the manifesto that’s
system that’s the manifesto that’s
system that’s the manifesto that’s what’s going to affect change if we have
what’s going to affect change if we have
what’s going to affect change if we have any hope of solving our greatest
any hope of solving our greatest
any hope of solving our greatest problems we are all going to have to
problems we are all going to have to
problems we are all going to have to find the change makers within we are all
find the change makers within we are all
find the change makers within we are all going to have to inspire the rebel
going to have to inspire the rebel
going to have to inspire the rebel spirit to inspire the artists who are
spirit to inspire the artists who are
spirit to inspire the artists who are the lone creators to join us the
the lone creators to join us the
the lone creators to join us the Mavericks and help the accountants learn
Mavericks and help the accountants learn
Mavericks and help the accountants learn how to put the human at the center of
how to put the human at the center of
how to put the human at the center of everything they do because if we can’t
everything they do because if we can’t
everything they do because if we can’t get the accountants to calculate the
get the accountants to calculate the
get the accountants to calculate the human potential we’re not going to
human potential we’re not going to
human potential we’re not going to change anything
change anything
change anything [Music]
so it’s three years now and I stand
so it’s three years now and I stand before you as a rebel designer with a
before you as a rebel designer with a
before you as a rebel designer with a cause my cause is to incubate the rebel
cause my cause is to incubate the rebel
cause my cause is to incubate the rebel spirit within you all and teaching how
spirit within you all and teaching how
spirit within you all and teaching how to make that change in the world because
to make that change in the world because
to make that change in the world because we need the artists and the Mavericks
we need the artists and the Mavericks
we need the artists and the Mavericks and the rebels and whoever else you are
and the rebels and whoever else you are
and the rebels and whoever else you are to join us so originally I was gonna
to join us so originally I was gonna
to join us so originally I was gonna leave you with this I was gonna ask you
leave you with this I was gonna ask you
leave you with this I was gonna ask you guys to go home tonight and do one
guys to go home tonight and do one
guys to go home tonight and do one rebellious act to design for joy but
rebellious act to design for joy but
rebellious act to design for joy but here’s the thing
here’s the thing
here’s the thing design for joy is my manifesto not that
design for joy is my manifesto not that
design for joy is my manifesto not that I want to share it but it’s my set of
I want to share it but it’s my set of
I want to share it but it’s my set of instructions and I was given a specific
instructions and I was given a specific
instructions and I was given a specific set of skills and talents for whatever
set of skills and talents for whatever
set of skills and talents for whatever my destined purpose was to be and it’s
my destined purpose was to be and it’s
my destined purpose was to be and it’s completely different than all of yours
completely different than all of yours
completely different than all of yours so this is what I challenge you to do
so this is what I challenge you to do
so this is what I challenge you to do tonight I want you to go home and I want
tonight I want you to go home and I want
tonight I want you to go home and I want you to listen to the whisper because in
you to listen to the whisper because in
you to listen to the whisper because in that whisper that’s the content of your
that whisper that’s the content of your
that whisper that’s the content of your manifesto make the whisper the drop and
manifesto make the whisper the drop and
manifesto make the whisper the drop and make your life the thousand ripples and
make your life the thousand ripples and
make your life the thousand ripples and good luck
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