The Vine

Ann Oliveri points us to an intriguing (and counterintuitive) perspective from IDEO designer Patrice Martin: Powerful individualism is often what leads to strong communities.

See the article: The “I” in Community

With examples ranging from Yelp to Pixar to BRIDGE Housing, Patrice shows how the unique, creative expression of individuals can contribute to a stronger identity and deeper engagement of the community.

“As we strive to move away from cookie-cutter sameness, individuals’ opinions, points of view, or unique thoughts can spark connection,” she writes. “We see it across all types of communities, whether grassroots or corporate-sponsored, virtual or rooted in physical space. The more eclectic and interesting, the more it thrives. Funny how an emphasis on ‘I’ leads to a more coherent sense of we.”

(Patrice, btw, will be one of the designers leading our November 17th salon at IDEO headquarters in Palo Alto)