Massive Action Sydney
We choose urgent change.
The problem
Around the world, the 2020s decade is considered make-or-break for protecting nature and preserving life on earth for future generations. We need to work together now to improve life on Earth before it’s too late.
Our approach
Massive Action Sydney (MAS) is part of a multidisciplinary global movement that draws on our collective power to design a better future now. MAS engages with diverse knowledges and champions creativity, collaboration and inclusion to drive the futures we hope for, not those we fear: futures that are sustainable, connected, healthy and socially just. It supports inspired strategic projects that accelerate massive action to deliver massive change.
Our goal
To explore, reimagine and redesign solutions to critical challenges within Climate, Health and Empowerment – three areas where change is urgent – using innovative approaches to increase the ambition, scale and pace of their Translation.
By taking a life-centred design approach to solving complex challenges, we acknowledge we’re part of a larger ecosystem and that everything we do has implications: economic, ecological, social and more. By practicing empathy, we can better understand our impact and help realise the greater good for humanity and the planet.
The program
In 2022, MAS brought together innovators, thought leaders, visionary artists and change makers from the ADA community in a month-long design sprint to address today’s most pressing issues. Participants pitched to solve vital problems, identifying barriers to change on a massive scale and at pace.
Through intensive workshops led by Designers Bruce Mau and Aiyemobisi (Bisi) Williams, our change-leaders engaged with the MC24 massive change principles designed to promote strategic impact, value, massive optimism and accelerated movement towards sustainable change. They translated project provocations into radical real-world plans.
Five projects were selected for development and overseen by the Innovation Hub over an 18-month period in 2023/24: Big Trauma, Big Change, Caring for Country Leave, (Daily) Delight~Disrupt, Making Good Media and re-situ.
These projects received ongoing mentorship with MCN along with strategic advice and support on project management, collaboration and resourcing through the Innovation Hub. They also received marketing, communication and international visibility through the Massive Action Sydney network.
The outcomes
All five projects progressed from concept to creative solution through this mentoring process. This culminated in the Unconvention in March 2024 when the Innovation Hub and ADA welcomed industry leaders, government representatives, and community visionaries to the faculty. Project teams presented talks, immersive experiences, and participated in deep conversations to progress their ideas to productive solutions.
Unconvention provided a crucial launchpad, enabling projects to advance towards real-world change. It evidenced strong industry commitment and engendered valuable networks with implementation partners.
Watch our mini-documentary, filmed with UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture, which explores the process of using creativity, collaboration, and inclusion to reimagine, design, and deliver positive change for all life on earth.
Big Trauma, Big Change
A Massive Action Sydney project redefining mental health support through community-driven, trauma-informed resources. Using immersive tools like VR, it empowers people to address trauma, foster connections, and spark transformation beyond the limits of traditional medical models.
Caring for Country Initiative
A proactive, culturally and environmentally just initiative, that provides UNSW ADA staff the opportunity to undertake up to four days additional leave per year to volunteer and give back to country.
(Daily) Delight Disrupt
A grassroots movement transforming environmental engagement through simple, joyful activities. Themed weekly practices empower people to reconnect with each other and the planet through simple, delightful actions that disrupt harmful norms. By spreading joy and care, it builds a global culture of positive, restorative change.
Making Good Media
Using speculative design to help us imagine what media could look like in a hopeful, climate-positive future. UNSW designers, directors, visual effects creators, and writers created short, shareable media clips to show what possible futures might look like.
re-situ
Designers have a responsibility to make informed decisions. re-situ is a digital platform that aims to connect different perspectives and knowledge systems and suggest tools to reflect on our practice, challenge our perceptions and unlearn limiting beliefs and bias.
Project partners
- Designers Bruce Mau and Aiyemobisi (Bisi) Williams of Massive Change Network® (MCN). MCN is a multi-partner alliance across major international cities promoting deep collaborations to solve problems where others have failed and achieve the best possible outcomes for people and the planet.
Work with us
The UNSW Innovation Hub tackles diverse problem-solving projects, varying in size, complexity and subject matter. We specialise in complex challenges that require collaboration, a design-led approach, and that can’t be addressed by a single discipline.
If you have a project proposal or potential partnership that you would like to discuss, please get in touch.
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