Democracy workshop 2

DEMOCRACY & IMAGINATION & THE POWER IN YOU Malene Lunden Artist, external consultant Samsø Energy Academy

& Kirsten Bonde Sørensen Designer, MA & Ph.D. in strategic design

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

INPUTS: THE ROLE OF VALUES THE POWER OF ”THINKING WITH THE HANDS” WORKSHOP - EXPLORING: DEMOCRACY & YOUR HUMAN VALUES INPUTS: THE ROLE OF IMAGINATION WORKSHOP - EXPLORING: IMAGINATION & THE POWER IN YOU YOUR LIFE AND ROLES AS FUTURE CITIZENS

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

THE ROLE OF VALUES IN OUR LIVES

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

MONEY - A CENTRAL VALUE IN LIFE •

Ph.D. research in a Danish bank (2008-2011)

How to use design in business development The result was a project documenting strategic design in an organisation - and in individuals

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

FINDINGS: •

Despite money is a very central value in our lives, most of us do not reflect on money and how we use money

•

Dominant values and assumptions control our habitual ways of thinking and acting

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

Money is…hm…they are in themselves worthless, instead it is the pleasures and experiences you can buy when you have money, which are sweet.

PENGE - HVORDAN ER VORES FORHOLD TIL DEM?

Kirsten Bonde Sørensen Designer, MA i retorik, Ph.D. i strategisk design

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

…they are not hanging on the trees

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

…my mother always said that we should use the money we had

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

PENGE - HVAD ER VORES FORHOLD TIL DEM? …I use everything I have Kirsten Bonde Sørensen Designer, MA i retorik, Ph.D. i strategisk design

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

[money]is a proof that you have been working hard + surplus

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

Hvordan tjener man[money]is penge,air,hvis de erand bevis på hårdt arbejde? experiences freedom

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

MEMORIES ABOUT MONEY

mess

powerlessness

No savings

Shortage of money

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

FINDINGS: •

Despite money is a very central value in our lives, most of us do not reflect on money and how we use money

•

Dominant values and assumptions steer our habitual ways of thinking and acting

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

HOW DO VALUES AND MENTAL MODELS STEER OUR LIVES? - AND OUR WAY OF USING MONEY?

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

VALUES ROOTS IN MENTAL MODELS Our values root in mental models, an inner map including our assumptions and view of the world.

According to cognitive scientists these mental models play an even stronger role in our mind than previously thought.

SAMSĂ˜ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

WHAT IS REAL AND WHAT IS INTERPRETATIONS? The world, as we experience it, most of all occurs in our heads…

Thus, it is to a lesser extent a situation as ”it really is” that affect our emotions.

Instead it is the interpretation we make of a situation, that affect us Therefore, it is often already installed feelings about a situation, that affect us

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

WHAT IS REAL AND WHAT IS INTERPRETATION? Humans tend to perceive our own interpretations as an expression of ”reality" or "truth" (how things objectively are), but it is our interpretative and subjective experience of the external circumstances, that are crucial.

(Gørtz & Prehn, 2008)

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

”Mental models are extremely

conservative: if we do not challeng

them, they will control us and stee

us, to see the same as we always the same needs, the same possibilities, the same results.

And because we only see what our mental models allow us to see, we only do what

our mental models allow us to do.

(Senge, 1990)

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

MENTALE MODELS, WHAT EFFECT DO THEY HAVE? Examples of dominant logics: ”The customers are the one that decide” (about entrepreneurship) ”Use them, use them use them…” (about money) ”The first years are always hard” (about entrepreneurship) ”I have no interest in money” (about money) ”Life is hard work, that´s how it is” (about life) ”I´m not the one that decide here” (about life/work life) ”You can´t have everything you wish” (about life)

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

MENTAL MODELS, WHAT EFFECT DO THEY HAVE? Vores indre landkort er meget forskellige. Et eksempel: To brødre befinder sig helt forskellige steder i livet: én er blevet succesrig forretningsmand med God familie, den anden er blevet dybt alkoholiseret, ensom og arbejdsløs. Begge bruger samme Forklaringsmodel: ”Min far var alkoholiker” Hvad var sandheden her?

Sandheden er subjektiv. Samme faktiske omstændighed, at faren var alkoholisk - har gjort den ene Til en fighter og den anden til et offer. Den narrative fortælling vi skaber om vores eget liv og Vælger at fastholde, er altså afgørende for, hvor ressourcefulde vi oplever os selv og hvilken SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013 udvikling

MENTAL MODELS, WHAT EFFECT DO THEY HAVE? Another example: 2 women are doing salesmeetings with potential customers: One experienced these meetings ”like going to exam” The other considers these meeting to be Den anden kaldte dem ”mine erobningstogter” Uanset hvilken model man bruger, har de stor indflydelse på hvordan man bruger sin energi før, under og efter kundemøderne.

(Gertz & Prehn, 2008)

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

2.MENTALE MODELLER, HVAD BETYDER DET FOR OS? Vores indre landkort er afgørende for, hvad vi oplever i livet.

Placebo-effekten er et godt eksempel.

Hvis man forventer mindsket smerte, så oplever man ifølge undersøgelser en reduktion i den opfattede smerte med 28 % (Gørtz & Prehn,174) Den menneskelige forventning om smertelindring får personen til at koncentrere sine ressourcer omkring oplevelsen af smertelindring. Derved aktiveres hjernens eget smertelindringskredsløb og det Fører til mindskelse af den oplevede smerte.

Mennesker oplever det de forventer at opleve. Det vi fokuserer på giver vi energi og så ’vokser’ SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013 det.

MENTAL MODELS - WHY DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS? Working with sustainability Working with new types of democracies Working with new types of economies Working with change…

You need to be aware about: • you own mental models and • the mental models that typically are present in people you design for/with

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

MENTAL MODELS - WHY DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS? MENTAL MODELS - CAN BE CHALLENGE AND CHANGED Working with sustainability S E Working with new types of democracies S S E C O R P E V I T Working with new types of economies A E R C H G U Working with change…

THRO You need to be aware about: • you own mental models and • the mental models that typically are present in people you design for/with

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

CAN WE CHANGE OUR MENTAL MODELS? Our brain is plastic, which means the brain is changing depending on where we have our focus. ”Whereever we focus our brain´s attention, that´s where were making and reinforcing connections.

If our attention is focused on negative things, those are the connections that will be made and strengthened” (researcher within neuroplasticity, Jeffrey Schwartz)

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

(researcher within neuroplasticity, Jeffrey Schwartz)

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

METHOD / GENERATIV TOOLS “A language for co-creation aimed at the collective creativity” (Sanders, 2000, 2006)

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

FINDINGS AM: a young student She contantly used too much money.

She expressed she wanted to switch bank and have a new financial advisor that could help her make budgets and get in control of her private finances. …she had not switched bank…

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

FINDINGS AM: a young student Instead she had changed her behaviour She had made budgets herself - and adhered to them She was now in control of her money She was proud: “I did it myself”

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

GENERATIVE TOOLS “A language for co-creation aimed at the collective creativity” (Sanders, 2000, 2006) “A language for self-dialogue and value clarification aimed at the creativity of the individual” (Bonde Sørensen, 2011)

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

GENERATIV TOOLS - THINKING WITH YOUR HANDS

Different levels of knowledge about experience are accessed by different techniques.(Visser et all. 2005, p.123)

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

GENERATIVE TOOLS - THINKING WITH YOUR HANDS VISUAL LANGUAGE: Our brains is thinking much quicker in visuals and in visual language (words and pictures) Neuroscientists support the claim that humans think in images and often in visual images rather than in words (Pinker, S., 1998, Damasio, 1999). “visual representations as revealing mental models, rather than depicting what we see” (Kazmierczak, 2002, 1).

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

Pallasmaa: the thinking hand: the interplay of emotion and imagination, intelligence and making

GENERATIVE TOOLS - THINKING WITH YOUR HANDS THE BALANCE OF MAKING AND THIKING: “…We have to reflect again. No longer by reflecting merely upon reflection, but by reflecting upon what we create through our hands. Reflection on action is what matters.

It is the body that shapes the way we think, and not the other way round…”

(Kint & Overbeeke, in Trotto et all 2009, 12)

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

Pallasmaa: the thinking hand: the interplay of emotion and imagination, intelligence and making

TEORETICAL PROOF Participants are ‘reframing’ their situation and creating new mental strategies Teoretical proof in Manz & Neck´s theory about ‘Though-Self-Leadership’: - Origins from the idea about self-leadership - Builds on a later discovery within cognitive science, that people can change inappropriate thinking patterns and improve their performance by developing new cognitive strategies (Manz & Neck,1992).

- Generative tools, the act of creating + reflecting, “thinking with the hands” stimulates working with the deeper values and mental models.

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

4.GENERATIV TOOLS, THINKING WITH YOUR HANDS

Different levels of knowledge about experience are accessed by different techniques.(Visser et all. 2005, p.123)

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

NEW METHOD: DESIGN AS LANGUAGE / STRATEGIC DESIGN FOR INDIVIDUALS PRINCIPLES: 1:VALUE CLARIFICATION 2.VALUE DEVELOPMENT - GOING IN THE FUTURE 3.IMAGINING THE FUTURE 4.MAKING PERSONAL STRATEGIES

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

AN EXAMPLE FROM THE MONEY WORKSHOP:

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

THE PRESENT

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

THE PAST

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

THE FUTURE

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

THE STRATEGY

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

THE OUTCOME FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE MONEY WORKSHOP

how your dominant values steer your life want to take leadership in their lives and to change values oney and private financies ir dreams and wishes, they learn ’to see’ and create new possibilities

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

“I have changed, now I am the one that decide.

I have made budgets and adhere to them!”

I am rather proud that now I am in control of my money (jørgen, 25år)

“I did change my money behaviour.

Participating in the workshop made me think differently (Mia, 27)

EXPRESSIONS FROM PARTICIPANTS: “The MoneyWorkshop has turned my ”I do not have this strained relation to money and private finances. Now I have found a total different way of thinking about money which is a huge relief.” (karin, 49)

perception of money upside down - and likewise my life is turned upside down…

Money is rather central in life.

Money is energy…”

(Inge, 52 år)

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

HOW DO WE/YOU TALK ABOUT DEMOCRACY AND ABOUT YOUR HUMAN VALUES IN LIFE?

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

Democracy

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

INPUTS: THE ROLE OF VALUES THE POWER OF THINKING WITH THE HANDS WORKSHOP - EXPLORING: DEMOCRACY & YOUR HUMAN VALUES INPUTS: THE ROLE OF IMAGINATION WORKSHOP - EXPLORING: IMAGINATION & THE POWER IN YOU YOUR LIFE AND ROLES AS FUTURE CITIZENS

*

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

demos (people) + krates (rule)

DEMOCRACY - A BRIEF HISTORY

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

DEMOCRACY - A BRIEF HISTORY • Democracy was initially introduced by the ancient Greeks who combined the words demos (people) and krates (rule) into a practical way of govering a community of people living together.

• The basic idea is that a group of people formed by all citizens of an area create the rules and rights for that particular area • This was quite revolutionary at the time since it was natural for a single king or small group of wealthy people to create all the rules.

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

DEMOCRACY - A BRIEF HISTORY Athens, the very first city which allowed its citizens to access government seats and offices.

All citizens of Athens were allowed to speak out there vote loudly on the agora.

Athens, not a true democracy: women, slaves and foreigners weren’t allowed to ‘vote’

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

DEMOCRACY - A BRIEF HISTORY This ’old way’ of democracy involved each and every citizen (excluding women, slaves and foreigners) to gather at the town center and literally ‘yell’ their opinions.

This way of communication doesn’t really work in our modern world.

Therefore many modern countries have established a system in which we vote for a person (or party) that represents our thoughts and opinions the best.

These political parties then gather in a parliament to govern a town, city or country.

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

DEMOCRACY - A BRIEF HISTORY Looking back at history, democracy hasn’t always been a matter of course.

Currently around 60% of the world’s countries are some form of democracy whilst the rest follow another form of governing.

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

DEMOCRACY - A BRIEF HISTORY

Democracy = strong benefits: every man, woman and child (regardless of race, religion or gender) has the same political rights as everyone else in the country.

Living in a democracy = protected from oppression by laws and governmental powers.

Those who are chosen to lead a democracy have to obey the same laws as everybody else in the country.

Democracies = usually is a safer place to be, in terms of violence against humans.

Democracies =have seen the least crimes, wars and mass murders by local or national governments.

Democracies = try to give people freedom. Freedom of speech, freedom or knowledge and SAMSĂ˜ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013 the freedom to be who you want to be.

DEMOCRACY - A BRIEF HISTORY 4 basic elements: 1. A political system for choosing and replacing the government through free and fair elections.

2. The active participation of the people, as citizens, in politics and civic life.

3. Protection of the human rights of all citizens.

4. A rule of law, in which the laws and procedures apply equally to all citizens.

SAMSĂ˜ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

INPUTS: THE ROLE OF VALUES THE POWER OF THINKING WITH THE HANDS WORKSHOP - EXPLORING: DEMOCRACY & YOUR HUMAN VALUES INPUTS: THE ROLE OF IMAGINATION

*

WORKSHOP - EXPLORING: IMAGINATION & THE POWER IN YOU YOUR LIFE AND ROLES AS FUTURE CITIZENS

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

?

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

MOVING ON THE EDGE OF THE INDUSTRIAL PARADIGM Industrial Age: VALUES: Hierarchy, authority, symmetry and centralism were central values.

Human being = ’a machine’, that could work more efficiently (Covey, 2008) Plenty of rules and control of employees, students, citizens…

The world has changed but our behaviour has not - yet.

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

MOVING ON THE EDGE OF THE INDUSTRIAL PARADIGM As Einstein ones argued: “We can´t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we use when we created them”.

Instead we must identify the deeply ingrained habits and patterns that control our decision making.

That means we must reframe our values and assumptions as these are profound limitation to thinking “outside the box”.

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

MOVING ON THE EDGE OF THE INDUSTRIAL PARADIGM The human conditions are changing radically these days…

As Peter Drucker (2000) argues the biggest changes right now are within the human conditions: "…For the first time - literally - substantial and rapidly growing numbers of people have choices.

For the first time, they will have to manage themselves…” (management guru Peter Drucker, 2000) SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

MOVING ON THE EDGE … ”To succeed in this new world, we will have to learn, first, who we are.

Few people, even highly successful people, can answer the questions.

Do you know what you're good at?

Do you know what you need to learn so that you get the full benefit of your strengths?

Few have even asked themselves these questions.”

(Peter Drucker, 2000) SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

LEARNING WHO WE ARE? OUR CHALLENGE & OPPORTUNITY (?)

Connecting ourselves with ourselves Connecting ourselves with each other.

(Ken Robinson, Otto Scharmer, Stephen Covey))

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

LEARNING THE POWER OF IMAGINATION

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

THE POWER OF IMAGINATION 1. We can change the way we feel, by changing the way we think 2. We can to a great extent create our future Research in brainplasticity also shows that our imagination about the world and the future to a great extent influences our actual experience.

An expectation about reduction of pain, led to an experience of pain reduction up till 28% (Oshner, 2002).

SAMSĂ˜ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

THE POWER OF IMAGINATION Thus it is extremely important that we do not use our brain activity on thinking and talking about what we do not want, but to focus on both being creative and imagining solutions and possibilities and to express our clear wishes and dreams for the future.

Must of us use our brain capacity on thinking about things we do not want Thinking negatively…

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

THE POWER OF IMAGINATION Over 2,000 years ago, Aristotle described the process this way: "First, have a definite, clear, practical ideal; a goal, an objective.

Second, have the necessary means to achieve your ends: wisdom, money, materials, and methods.

Third, adjust all your means to that end."

SAMSĂ˜ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

THE POWER OF IMAGINATION Visualization should not be confused with the "think it and you will be it" advice peddled by popular self-help gurus. It is not a gimmick, nor does it involve dreaming or hoping for a better future.

Rather, visualization is a well-developed method of performance improvement supported by substantial scientific evidence and used by successful people across a range of fields.

(Frank Niles, social scientist, Ph.D.)

SAMSĂ˜ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

THE POWER OF IMAGINATION Take athletes, for example. Studies show that visualization increases athletic performance by improving motivation, coordination and concentration.

It also aids in relaxation and helps reduce fear and anxiety.

In the words of one researcher, "visualization helps the athlete just do it and do it with confidence, poise, and perfection."

SAMSĂ˜ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

THE POWER OF IMAGINATION Why Visualization Works Brain imagery, visualization works because neurons in our brains, those electrically excitable cells that transmit information, interpret imagery as equivalent to a real-life action.

When we visualize an act, the brain generates an impulse that tells our neurons to "perform" the movement. This creates a new neural pathway -- clusters of cells in our brain that work together to create memories or learned behaviors -that primes our body to act in a way consistent to what we imagined.

All of this occurs without actually performing the physical activity, yet it achieves a similar result.

SAMSĂ˜ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

THE POWER OF IMAGINATION A strong imagination does not make you a daydreamer and impractical.

A strong imagination: • strengthens your creative abilities • is a great tool for recreating and remodeling your world and life • is a great power that can change your whole life

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

THE POWER OF IMAGINATION, 2 TYPES 1. Outcome visualization = envisioning yourself achieving your goal To do this, create a detailed mental image of the desired outcome using all of your senses.

2. Process visualization. It involves envisioning each of the actions necessary to achieve the outcome you want. Focus on completing each of the steps you need to achieve your goal, but not on the overall goal itself.

SAMSĂ˜ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

INPUTS: THE ROLE OF VALUES THE POWER OF THINKING WITH THE HANDS WORKSHOP - EXPLORING: DEMOCRACY & YOUR HUMAN VALUES INPUTS: THE ROLE OF IMAGINATION WORKSHOP - EXPLORING: IMAGINATION & THE POWER IN YOU YOUR LIFE AND ROLES AS FUTURE CITIZENS

*

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

HOW DOES YOU FUTURE LOOK LIKE?

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

INPUTS: THE ROLE OF VALUES THE POWER OF ”THINKING WITH THE HANDS” WORKSHOP - EXPLORING: DEMOCRACY & YOUR HUMAN VALUES (present, past) INPUTS: THE ROLE OF IMAGINATION (the future) WORKSHOP - EXPLORING: IMAGINATION & THE POWER IN YOU (creative & self-leading) YOUR LIFE AND ROLES AS FUTURE CITIZENS

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

INPUTS:

• WHEN YOU DESIGN FOR BETTER FUTURES YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF THE DOMINANT VALUES AND ASSUMPTIONS IN YOURSELF AND IN THE PEOPLE YOU ARE DESIGNING FOR/WITH (VALUE CLARIFICATION)

• BE AWARE OF THE POWER OF IMAGINATION (VALUE DEVELOPMENT)

• BE AWARE OF THE POWER OF THINKING WITH YOUR HANDS - YOUR INNER LANGUAGE

THANK YOU!

SAMSØ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013

PROGRAM 13.00 - 13.30 The role of values and assumptions in our lives - a research project What is democracy? - examples on local democracy 13.30 - 13.55 Creative assignment: presence 10 min, present to neighbour 2x5min , sum up in plenum 13.55 - 14.20 Creative assignment: past, present to neighbour, sum up in plenum 14.20 - 14.35 Break 14.35 - 15.00 Short talk about futures & the role of imagination - THE POWER IN YOU 15.10 - 15.30 Creative assignment: future, present to neighbour 15.30 - 16.00 Sum up in plenum SAMSĂ˜ ENERGY ACADEMY / WORKSHOP / AARHUS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE / 12.11.2013