Building our relational infrastructure
As we challenge the business-as-usual approach to design consultancy work, we are actively experimenting with our collective model as a regenerative way of working. Benchmarks, inspirational models and methods have been key in our co-creative process so far - and most recently we have been exploring our “relational infrastructure” as an intervention in this space.
Sam Rye, in his incredible blog post that inspired this exploration, describes the concept of relational infrastructures:
“Relational infrastructure refers to the social connections, interactions, and collective intelligence that underpin a community, network or group's ability to collaborate, solve problems, and drive change. It is an emergent framework of trust, shared values, and common goals that allows individuals, groups, and organizations to work together effectively, pool their resources, and amplify their impact. A strong relational infrastructure can enable organisations and communities to overcome challenges, build resilience, and create sustainable social, economic, and environmental value and outcomes.”
We’ve therefore started building this experimental intervention by asking ourselves:
How can we nurture the power of connections to drive us towards a more resilient future?
How can we rebalance and restore our relationship with ourselves, others and the ecosystem in an interconnected and conscious way?
These questions have encouraged us to focus on three areas that relate to both our collective working practices, and our project work - how we intend to be, organise ourselves, and act.
Ways of being
In how we intend to be, we are considering the external elements and cycles that affect us. Whether it be seasons, social systems or personal cycles, we recognise the natural ebbs and flows of life, and are asking how to be sensitive and in tune with these.
Ways of organising
In organising ourselves, we are exploring the roles we take on within our collective’s working community. How do we move beyond hierarchical structures and give value, agency and empowerment to each of our skills, backgrounds, experiences and knowledge? We are inspired by symbiotic relationships in nature like the wood-wide-web of fungi that supplies the forest with nutrients, for sugar in exchange.
Ways of acting
Through our actions, we want to create spaces to be seen, heard and felt, meeting each other and ourselves in a variety of ways, so that we might foster chains of care and build resilience. This is not only important within our collective ways of working, but also in our relationships with clients, collaborators, partners, networks and natural environments.
Learning and Growing together:
This is an ongoing conversation and experiment, and we want to learn from other existing ways of working. If you are exploring these themes in your own work, we’d love to connect!
