Small Beginnings

We’ve been heads-down for a few months and are now ready to share a few things.

Studio D Research Grant

We run a number of speculative projects every year. This year, we’re making one available to a newcomer, in the form of a small grant.

The Studio D Research Grant is for a researcher and/or writer to travel to an edge-of-grid community, and help us understand what is interesting and why. You’ll need to be on the ground, and live at the edge of the grid—this could be in the Brazilian rainforest, a remote corner of Kazakhstan, or somewhere in between—for at least a month in the coming year. The winning applicant will be provided with a mentorship, and also be invited to join the training retreat in China or Japan.

Applications close September 8th. Details and application.

In addition, I’m offering a separate one-month mentorship to someone looking to stretch their skillset. Details and application.

Field Study Template Kit

Over many years of practicing we’ve build a comprehensive library of templates, forms and exercises for smooth our passage through international borders, align cross-cultural teams, and calibrate to any locale.

These many years of experience have been packaged up into the Field Study Template Kit, that includes dozens of templates, forms and exercises to ensure your field study goes without a hitch. Essential tools for any practitioner, available in Professional, Corporate and Ultra Editions.

We also offer a stripped down Education Edition.

Workshops, Retreats & Expeditions

We’re looking forward to running three-day retreats in and Sichuan (Sept) and Yoshino (Oct), both of which sold out. Planning ahead, if you’re interested in a half-day workshop in your city or organisation and/or attending our upcoming retreats, please drop your details here.

The expeditions to the Pamirs and Afghanistan are scheduled for spring-summer 2018, once the snows clear from the hi-alt mountain passes. There’s one spot left for the Short Walk.

Taking Notes

The Kashmir Travel Folio went into production, designed from the ground up for running interviews, in-field note taking.

Kickstarter Shipped

The final books, rewards and bundles are shipping this week—all credit to our San Francisco team for pulling this off. We set ourself the deadline of wrapping this up by end of this week, so slightly ahead on an already aggressive schedule. Thank-you to everyone that supported the campaign—and the conversations it’s started.

Retail Launch

From today we’re offering the Handbook, Second Edition through Amazon US.

(Weirdly, Amazon US doesn’t ship to Canada, so for our friends in the north, we’ll ship direct from the studio, just drop a note here).

Why We Do What We Do

As much as we’ve enjoyed working on these projects, we devote our day-to-day helping clients figure out the world out there. We run fieldwork projects that inform and inspire teams, organisations and customers to impact design, strategy, brand, and community engagement.

To discuss your next project, contact us.

Small beginning lead to big things.

See you on the other side.