When I worked with Buckminster Fuller he always had us take a global, big picture, whole-systems perspective with all the problems on which we worked. We will be doing the same in the Global Solutions Lab. We will use a problem solving methodology developed by Fuller—what he called design science—and apply this to real world problems. We will present our work at the United Nations to a group of UN, corporate and foundation leaders. After this, a book will come out that documents our designs.

The 16th Annual Global Solutions Lab is June 21–29, 2020, at the United Nations in New York and Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, PA. Participants, including design, planning and architecture students and young professionals, are coming from around the world. Your students will have a unique opportunity to learn a powerful design, problem solving and strategic planning methodology developed and tested by Fuller and others. They will learn experientially by applying their learning to a real-world problem. They will work collaboratively in small teams made up of people from around the world, get hands-on experience in multiple levels of design, strategic thinking and planning, as well presentation and documentation of their work. They will be briefed by, interact with and question UN experts.

The Global Solutions Lab is a structured learning experience that fosters creativity, disruptive innovations, global perspectives and local solutions. It is intense, fast-paced, and for many, transformative.

If you know any students who might be interested in this type of design/planning/architecture event, have them get in touch with us. They can do this here at the registration page, or by emailing me at medard@bigpicturesmallworld.com.

Best regards,

Medard Gabel
Director, Global Solutions Lab