I tested the Inspiration Walk through Nature with three different groups of users.

With each group, I gained new insights into how to facilitate the event for those users’ needs. I also found new ways to make the guide better for all users.

Iteration 1

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Context

  • financial services executives

  • work inside all day

  • followed the guide individually and then met to discuss in person

Questions to answer through testing

  • Is this too weird or open-ended for executives to do with colleagues?

  • Is it structured enough for them to complete it?

  • Will it make a difference?

What I learned

  • They set out tentatively, but many came back with deep reflections

  • The group conversation after the walk transformed their reflections into energizing and pertinent insights for the project at hand.

  • Some of them didn't accept the relevance of the activity until I told a story about biomimicry used successfully in service design.

Iteration 2

Context

  • undergraduate anthropology students

  • followed the guide individually and met to discuss over Zoom

Questions to answer through testing

  • if I make the guide engaging enough, will they devote time to each step without rushing through?

  • Will they find meaning in the parts of nature they encounter in their walk?

  • Will they share their problems and insights with classmates?

What I learned

  • Many students were ready to talk to the group about their problems, which were very personal.

  • However, the range of reframes for personal problems was limited by not seeing them as part of a larger social system

  • these students were quick to elaborate metaphors, but they didn't take the time to seek out scientific information for inspiration

Iteration 3

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Context

  • public MeetUp group in NYC public parks

  • during easing of pandemic lockdown restrictions

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Questions to answer through testing

  • If I include a new step to set expectations for reframing problems rather than solving them, will this help participants use the guide?

  • If I include a new step to recast their initial problems in systemic terms, will it help them reconfigure the problem in response to the inspiration they derive from nature?

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  • If I include a new step to recast their initial problems in systemic terms, will it help them reconfigure the problem in response to the inspiration they derive from nature?

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  • If I include a new step to prompt online research, will it enrich the reframe or distract from it?

  • Does the MeetUp group description resonate with people to the point that they show up for the event?

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What I Learned

  • People showed up, and shared very personal stories with a group of strangers.

  • The most magical moments of the Meet-Ups came from participants sharing personal reframes with other participants, so careful planning is needed to facilitate this sharing in ways that feel respectful and safe.