Coevolving Innovations

From May 10-15, 2026, sLab convened the first Problematique Dialogue applying the Banathy Conversation Methodology, in the Graduate Studies building of OCAD University.  This brought together 26 participants in four teams, four facilitators, two methodologists, and two student volunteers.

Ashok Mathur, VP of Research and Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, opened the event with a welcome.

He spoke about the personal journey that brought him to OCAD University in 2018.  Graduate studies at this institution commenced only in 2008, and he arrived to discover the uniqueness of programs such as Strategic Foresight and Innovation, and Digital Futures.

Lesley-Ann Noel, Dean of the Faculty of Design, spoke about Design Research and Generative Conversation.

The approach developed by Bela H. Banathy complements directions in the Design Research Society with the Special Interest Group in Design Education, and with the Pluriversal Design Special Interest Group.  Her full address is posted as a sLab article.

Greg Van Alstyne, director of the sLab, spoke about the history of this research centre that predates the SFI program.

This 2026 Problematique Dialogue is a historic milestone in the reinvigoration of sLab.  It celebrates the sLab legacy of 18 years, inviting a new generation of scholars.

Gary Metcalf, past-president of the International Federation for Systems Research, flew in from Kentucky for the week. … Read more (in a new tab)

At OCAD U Graduate Programs, we convened an event to formalize (i) Re-introducing sLab, and (ii) announcing the Call for Participation for the May 2026 Problematique Dialogue, applying the Banathy Conversation Methodology.

Peter Scott served as the moderator for the afternoon.  Greg Van Alstyne spoke about the sLab, as a unit first founded in 2008, now perhaps in a version 2.0 evolution.

In 2008 when “design thinking” was new, the label of “Strategic Innovation Lab” was coined.  In the 2026 reinvigoration, the branding is now just sLab, where the “s” might signify “systemic design”, “social innovation”, or any variety of other descriptors.  sLab continues to welcome scholarly practitioners interested in collaborating on research in a participatory style.

For the second part of the agenda, the Problematique Dialogue was overviewed, with a new website, and reference to the Advance Call for Participation in the previous Systems Thinking Ontario.

Organizing this event is in the Connecting phase, towards a maximum of 4 topics with 8 participants each.  In the Agreeing phase of self-organizing, teams experience the dance between (i) topics seeking participants, and (ii) participants seeking topics.  There may be 2 or 3 online meetings as individuals feel out which of the 4 topics with which they most resonate.  The advance preparation will be complete when each team has established a Triggering Question.

When we’re in-person in May, most of the Exploring phase will be spent in the group of 8 participants, with some opportunities for cross-pollination at the end of each day. … Read more (in a new tab)