MASSIVE ACTION Sydney
A collaboration between Massive Change Network簧 and UNSW ADA Innovation Hub
Drawing on our collective power to design a better future now
The problem
Around the world, the 2020s decade is considered make-or-break for protecting nature and preserving life on earth for future generations.Were facing critical challenges in climate, health and empowerment that demand urgent change.
We need to work together now to improve life on earth before its too late.
Our partners
In 2022, the ADA Innovation Hub partnered with internationally renowned designers Bruce Mau and Aiyemobisi (Bisi) Williams of簧(MCN) to host MASSIVE ACTION Sydney (MAS).
MASSIVE ACTION is a multi-partner alliance across major international cities promoting deep collaborations to solve problems where others have failed.
MAS engages with diverse knowledges and championscreativity,泭collaboration泭硃紳餃泭inclusionto 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.胼
In the ADA Innovation Hub, were excited about creating new ways for universities to partner with industry, government and community groups, says Dr Carly Vickers, Academic Lead of the ADA Innovation Hub at UNSW. Our MASSVIVE ACTION Sydney initiative has five projects that we are looking for key partners to create positive change and impact at scale and at pace.
Our strategy
By taking a life-centred design approach to solving complex challenges, we acknowledge were 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 theplanet.
What I like about MASSIVE ACTION is that its not just talking about positivity, its actually turning that positivity into practical action. -Erika Aligno, UNSW Master of Environmental Management student (School of Humanities & Languages).
Our progress
Design sprint to identify sustainable change
In September 2022, the MAS partnership brought together innovators, thought leaders, visionary artists and change makers from the ADA staff and student community in a month-long design sprint to address todays most pressing issues. Participants pitched to solve vital problems through their work, identifying barriers to change on a massive scale and at pace.
Through intensive workshops led by MCN, our change-leaders engaged with their Massive Change principles (MC24) designed to promote strategic impact, value, massive optimism and accelerated movement towards sustainable畚hange. They translated project provocations into radical real-world plans.
Ongoing mentorship and strategic support
Five projects were selected forfurther development over an 18-month period in 2023/24: Caring for Country; Making Good Media; (Daily) Delight~Disrupt; Big Trauma, Big Change; and re-situ.
These projects received ongoing mentorship with MCN along with strategic advice and support on project management, collaboration and resourcing through the ADA Innovation Hub.They also received marketing, communication and international visibility through the MASSIVE ACTION Sydney network.
Whats really amazing aboutMASSIVE ACTION Sydneyis theyre tackling some of the biggest issues and challenges that were facing, but theyre doing it with commitment and optimism. Its exactly whats needed.-Kevin Finn, Founder of TheSumOf.
Our impact
In March 2023, UNSW ADA welcomed industry leaders, government representatives and community visionaries to ourUnconvention. Project teams presented talks, immersive experiences and participated in deep conversations to progress their ideas to productive solutions.
The Unconvention provided a crucial launchpad, enabling projects to advance to promote real-world change. It evidenced strong industry commitment and engendered valuable networks with implementation partners.
ADA has a vision: Through creativity, collaboration and inclusion, we seek and solve problems to include life on Earth. We have a number of projects focusing on climate, health and empowerment and wed love to work with you to take these to the next step.-Prof. Claire Annesley, Dean of Arts, Design & Architecture.
- Project Leads
- Related articles
