Figure 1. Ecology of Innovation Diagram
the city structure. Differences in perspectives and approaches within the municipal government body make it difficult to address the whole organization and the whole city. When viewed as a constellation of factors and attitudes that accounts for the complexities of everyday life, innovation in public service is multi-dimensional and complex, but not impossible to manage and change. The Institute without Boundaries has been working with municipal partners since its inception in 2003 as a collaborative studio environment and academic program that seeks to achieve social, ecological and economic innovation. In its most recent projects, it has worked with the City of Markham in Canada and the Dublin City Council in Ireland. Markham and Dublin are very different cities, with different problems, still there are many similarities facing these municipal governments in terms of public service delivery, specifically how to channel new ideas into public service and build better relationships with citizens. The IwB’s ecology of innovation approach is an evolving method that can be used as a framework for service design. The work here presented not only showcases the innovative ideas created by the IwB students, staff and project partners, more importantly it discusses the benefits for municipal governments of working with an interdisciplinary body like the IwB. The discussion below highlights the experience of 107
collaboration from the perspectives of the municipal government, IwB staff, and students to show that at its core innovation is an ecology that requires the development of organizational relationships as much as it needs new research, tools, and strategies.
Working with Cities: The IwB and its partners The Institute without Boundaries (IwB) is located in Toronto. It was founded in 2003 by the School of Design at George Brown College, in consultation with Bruce Mau. It is a unique academic, research and development program focused on collaborative design practice with the objectives of social, ecological and economic innovation through design research and strategy. Central to this work are real projects of public and global significance that are executed by students, faculty and industry experts as part of academic curriculum, research initiatives, and creative projects. The IwB has worked with several city entities, and many not for profit organizations and industry partners. Along with the Municipality of Markham, Ontario, and the Dublin City Council, some of the Institute’s past project partners include: the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the Ministry of Housing in Costa Rica, Habitat for Humanity Canada, Evergreen Canada, the Toronto Community Housing Corporation, and the Chilean City of Lota. These and other partnerships are