Imagine participatory, transformational processes that stretch your thinking while effectively solving your biggest challenges.
You won’t find any “check the boxes” formulas or boring slideshows here. We can’t expect to get somewhere new by using outdated maps and old, rutted roads. We need to zoom out and think bigger.
My work combines participatory and regenerative design strategy with futures thinking. I focus on real-world solutions, while prioritizing imagination, meaningful engagement, and mind-opening processes. I draw out your innate creativity and clearly illuminate the big-picture, long-term view so that you can create the best possible outcomes for you, your stakeholders, and the planet. I’ll help you make sense of complexity to focus on potential, rather than problems. We’ll navigate your biggest obstacles with an effective and engaging process that is fun, transformational, and has lasting impact.
Book a call. Let’s talk about what we could build together.
Ways to Partner
Strategic Planning
Hire me for strategic design if you want:
meaningful community engagement that inspires trust in your mission
an exciting and engaging process that moves beyond “checking the boxes”
to turn traditional planning or strategy on its head with an innovative and fun approach that takes you farther than you could have imagined
to feel empowered and confident about making change
new stories, narratives, and marketing that help you stand out
to make sense of unwieldy, complex issues
actionable strategy that you can implement on your own
Workshop Design & Facilitation
Hire me to help you design and deliver your next workshop if you want:
more creative and innovative problem-solving insights, approaches, and discovery processes
to rethink how you see and address your challenges, with a new set of tools, frameworks, and a fresh perspective
to push yourself to embrace more cutting-edge thinking that can translate into new ideas, strategies, and storytelling
meaningful culture change
help navigating tough issues and difficult conversations in a safe way
guidance for applying new concepts and learnings with clear, actionable next steps
Proven techniques & effective frameworks that yield exciting results
My work combines participatory and regenerative design strategies with futures thinking. Participatory design strategy is an innovative design approach that invites the participation of end users in the design process to create stronger and more satisfying outcomes. Regenerative design strategy takes a holistic approach to any problem to create adaptable systems and processes that actively contribute to the renewal, restoration, and thriving of the environment and communities. Participatory futures systematically empowers people to imagine and shape their collective futures using techniques that are more imaginative than convention usually allows.
Not to be confused with experience design, interactive design, or human-centered design theory, these approaches emphasize collaboration, positive interdependence, and social and ecological health and well-being. The result? Better products, policies, communities, and organizations—and lasting, more resilient change.
"Working with Ilana is an absolute pleasure. We've engaged her for a series of facilitations and keep bringing her back because of the consistently high level of engagement her sessions have had. She has a remarkable ability to navigate diverse perspectives, fostering an environment of inclusivity and respect that has yielded invaluable takeaways. Her infectious energy and sharp insights have made every session an energizing and engaging experience."
— Alyssa Patterson, Project Manager, Large Philanthropic Institution