DeSE | PVD DESIGN FOR SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP Spring 2013 RISD Industrial Design Advanced Studio www.RISDDeSE.blogspot.

com FIELDWORK Project 1: Case Studies Mid-Review: Thursday, March 21st th Final Review: Tuesday, April 16 Presentation: SEEED Conference on Friday, 4/26 Social Ventures Partners Rhode Island (SVPRI) provides a comprehensive support system for the needs of the growing social enterprise sector in Rhode Island. SVPRI works with over 130 ventures providing business consulting, mentorship, incubation and investment. As a leader in social enterprise development they are being asked to replicate their eco-system model, programs and expertise in new sectors. In collaboration with SVPRI, this studio will work to research and develop case studies for a selection of social ventures that SVPRI has supported to better understand this eco-system approach. We will investigate each venture to compare social issues, models of entrepreneurship, support/ service provided by SVPRI and future needs or growth opportunities of the venture and as a studio develop representational methods for presenting and marketing social venture issues. The case study project investigate each organization, its mission, programs and services, as well as SVPRIs role in development, support and also serve as a place to discuss current needs and future growth opportunities of each venture. Our goal is for this project to benefit all stakeholders involved: Expose RISD Design Students to the development, work and needs of social ventures here in Rhode Island. To work hands on to learn an organizations mission statement, how to address social issues, business model and venture development. Help SVPRI understand how its Eco-system model of support and services has worked and where this model can expand to meet new needs. Benefit each Social Venture by providing potential design acumen and student brain trust to address needs and envision possible new opportunities. Assist Future Ventures by creating a catalog of successful precedents that will become a tool for social venture development. All parties will have access to the final case studies created by the studio for reference or marketing purposes. This work will be presented at the SEEED Conference April 2013. Over the course of the next 4 weeks, you will be working in teams of 2-3 with your assigned venture to understand the mission, programs, services, and needs. The goal is that this research be gathered through both interviews and hands on experience. This will require you to be available to meet with organization leaders, user groups and attend/observe an organizations program or service activities. You will have to conduct research, interviews and develop methods for accessing this information. Students should also take opportunities to volunteer or assist the venture to gain more exposure to the work. Each student team is responsible for scheduling meetings and events directly with their venture partner. You may also use studio time Tuesday/Thursdays (unless otherwise noted) to meet with your venture. We will schedule in studio discussions and desk crits to accommodate your partner meetings.

RESEARCH Student teams will be responsible for recording and compiling all information regarding their individual venture. The research should cover the following three areas: 1) GENERAL PRECEDENT Each team should provide a basic overview of the organization, its mission, programs, services, impact, organizational structure and model of social entrepreneurship/business plan. 2) SVPRI & BUISNESS ACUMEN Each partner has worked with SVPRI in various capacities to grow into a social venture. The case study should cover the extent of the relationship of the organization with SVPRI, the methods and means in which the venture has participated in programs or received support throughout its enterprise development. This section should speak to the impact of SVPRI and its ecosystem model. 3) OPPORTUNITIES The third portion of the case study should assess current and future needs of the venture and should lead to the discussion of possible strategies that address outstanding needs and opportunities for growth both in the partner organizations and at SVPRI. You should consider using methods from the Human Centered Design Toolkit to facilitate discussions with your ventures or through participation in programs and activities. Throughout this process you should also be thinking about your own interests and begin to identify a social issue or problem you want to address. We will begin to develop your own problem statement for development throughout the rest of the semester. We will meet to discuss this individually and as a studio to strategize possible opportunities for your own ventures. REPRESENTATION Each studio team will work to develop a team strategy for representation that will best tell the story of this ventures work and social enterprise. Your representation will need to be visual but can include video, audio, infographics, animation, 2-d graphics etc. Though each presentation can be tailored to best present your research and venture, as a studio we will discuss how to create a common brand for this collection of work. To help facilitate this we will have a visiting lecture and critic from Worldways Social Marketing team. SCHEDULE - Project 1: Case Study March 7 SVPRI Kickoff with Kelly Ramirez RISD Students to contact ventures to set up initial meeting & begin research March 12 In Studio team Meetings & Meetings with Partner Ventures, in PVD March 14 In Studio team Meetings & Meetings with Partner Ventures, in PVD March 19 In Studio team Meetings & Meetings with Partner Ventures, in PVD March 21 In Studio team Meetings & Meetings with Partner Ventures, in PVD SPRING BREAK April 2 In Studio team Meetings & Meetings with Partner Ventures, in PVD April 4 In Studio Mid-Review April 9 In Studio team Meetings & Meetings with Partner Ventures, in PVD April 11 In Studio team Meetings & Meetings with Partner Ventures, in PVD April 16 Final Review

FUTURE SCHEDULE - Project 2: Proposals (6 weeks) April 11 May 21 (Final Review)

General Precedent : Possible Questions: How was it started? What is their Mission? What social issue does this venture address? What sorts of products/services/programs? What is their model of social entrepreneurship? Business model? What is the measurement of impact? SVPRI & Business Acumen Possible Quesitons: Why did they partner with SVPRI? What programs of SVPRI did they utilize? Were their needs met? What needs werent met? What is their business model? Opportunities Possible Questions: What successes are they having now? What are their opportunities for growth? Do they have unmet organizational needs? What needs do they have that SVPRI does not meet? Questions for you: Where do you see opportunities for design? Where do you see needs? What about the mission/programs/business plan would you change? You can partner up/team up throughout this process.