The Future of
Work and Learning
C A S E S T U D Y
A collaboration with Chicago Scholars to reimagine work for its staff and learning for the Chicago youth it serves. The community-created visions and principles provide a framework for how the space should function and how to meet the needs of those who utilize the space.
S E E K I N G
D E E P E R U N D E R S T A N D I N G
O F T H E N E E D
Research Question
What does a shared space that meets the unique work and learning needs of Chicago’s youth and the organizations that serve them look like?
How should the space function?
“A first-of-its-kind collaborative space is rooted in celebrating. This new diverse, equitable, and inclusive space was developed with a design thinking lens to foster belonging and pride in the diverse identities of the people it serves.
It includes accessible technologies and spaces for collaboration, decompression, productivity, and peace. Within this space, it was highlighted that the whole person is acknowledged.”
— One of the participant groups describing the space they envisioned
Visions and Principles
W H A T W E C O - C R E A T E D
Through thought-provoking conversations and ideation sessions, participants created a framework to guide the development of a new innovative, youth-centered, and inclusive space. This new space must function as a Caretaker, Connector, and Catalyst for the various stakeholders in the education ecosystem.
V I S I O N S
These are overarching aspirations of the community as to what it hopes this space will achieve or become.
P R I N C I P L E S
These are the “rules” or “laws” that govern how the space operates or functions. Principles explain how to approach achieving the goals.
S E E K I N G
D E E P E R U N D E R S T A N D I N G
O F T H E N E E D
The Process
Project
Objectives
To surface the challenges of nonprofit staff and youth and understand what they need to be successful in their roles.
1
To determine how to effectively foster cross-organizational collaboration, professional and personal pathways, belonging,
and well-being.
2
To develop a unified vision,
design principles, and optimal governance structure for a new collaborative space.
3
CBD
Methodology
Engaging youth, nonprofit staff, mentors, and volunteers in a series of two co-design workshops, establishing the needs and expectations of our co-designers, and prototyping a space that meets these needs.
1
Future Framing Workshop
First, we virtually convened a Design Committee comprised of nonprofit leadership and staff to visualize cross-organizational collaboration, belonging, and well-being to co-design a vision for a future space of work and learning.
Prototyping Workshop
Nonprofit staff and youth tested these values and principles’ desirability and feasibility by prototyping a new collaborative space that reflects their needs.
P R O J E C T
D E T A I L S
Chicago Scholars
iMentor
PARTNER
Spatial Design
PROJECT TYPE
2 months
PROJECT TIMELINE
OUR PROCESS
2 co-design
workshops
— Brooke McCean, President, Chicago Scholars
“It was the best first step before moving forward with any office move to center our students and staff in designing a space that works in a post-pandemic world. We shared the final report with our network of partners and funders, and they had a positive reaction. We are convening organizations to discuss the next steps. We also used the design principles in guiding the physical office and the virtual world
as we began designing an app for students.
The team was delightful to work with and full of fun and engaging exercises to help us design collaborative office space. The final report was also GORGEOUS and so high quality.”
To learn more about this project,
VIEW SIMILAR PROJECTS
Next-Generation Support for
Community College Students
Reimagining Youth Diversion
through Holistic Approaches
Being My
Brother’s Keeper
