The life and death of Innovation Labs: Celebrating what was and what still is

Innovation labs are brought into life as an answer to visions, problems, organisational pressures, and dreams. Inevitably, at some point, they are closed with an equally diverse list of reasons. In this session we practice surfing the wave of inevitability — the cycle of life and death of innovation labs — to both process that experience as individuals and to sense-make as a group. We acknowledge what is lost and disrupted and look forward to what is still possible even after knowledge and people are scattered. We explore how the knowledge, tools, people and artefacts that were part of thriving innovation labs can find utility and create value in new forms. This is about shifting from individual blame to systemic understanding. This is about intentionally salvaging what would otherwise be lost. Through shared stories and structured reflection, we build the foundation to manage when things transform unexpectedly. What does the capability to rebuild look like? How do we create new value?

In collaboration with Krogh and Civic Design Collaborative