Office Hours Side Projects N°269
Office Hours Side Projects N°269
Transformative Ideas and Community Engagement
Office Hours Side Projects N°269 Cover Art
Contributed By: Julian Bleecker
Post Reference Date: Jul 25, 2025, 11:03:36 PDT
Published On: Jul 25, 2025, 11:03:36 PDT
Updated On: Jul 25, 2025, 11:03:36 PDT
Summary
In this Office Hours Side Projects session, we were presented with three Side Projects: Root Workers, focusing on environmental conservation through community engagement; ElderPunkt, a publication concept aimed at enhancing elder agency; and Communal Heirlooms, a project exploring ways by which community assets can be preserved.
Each was presented for 10 minutes, followed by 20+ minutes of discussions and reflection as to the project's unique challenges and opportunities. An overall theme of these Side Projects was considerations as to the importance of emotional connections, community needs, and intergenerational perspectives.
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As always and specifically today, this Office Hours Side Projects edition featured three short, sharp 10 minute presentations of Side Projects, followed by 20 or so minutes of discussion, feedback, and brainstorming. The three projects presented today were:

Root Workers project

Anna presented a project combining performance art, somatic practices, and environmental conservation

  • Details

    • Anna: Developed a business called “Join Asium” to help people reconnect with nature and themselves
    • Anna: Incorporates dance and somatic activated healing into environmental activism
    • Anna: Focuses on preserving 300-year-old trees and raising awareness about their importance
    • Anna: Uses garden parties as a gateway to engage communities in tree preservation
  • Feedback and suggestions

    • Marvelous: Suggested focusing on younger demographics for engagement
    • Sabrina: Highlighted potential for subverting traditional leadership development approaches
    • Benjamin: Recommended a framework for building communities and scaling events
    • Mateusz: Advised focusing on emotional connections to trees rather than technical solutions
    • Aaron: Suggested considering the theory of Routine Mode choice for participant engagement
  • Conclusion

    • The project shows potential for combining art, community engagement, and environmental conservation
    • There’s a need to balance technical aspects with emotional connections to nature
    • Scaling and community-building strategies should be considered for long-term success

ElderPunkt

Steve: Introduced a concept for a publication targeting elder care and technology innovations

  • Details

    • Steve: Aims to create a periodical focusing on increasing elder agency and addressing their needs
    • Steve: Incorporates design fictions and storytelling to explore future scenarios for elder care
    • Steve: Wants to involve elders in the creation process and storytelling
  • Feedback and suggestions

    • Scott: Suggested clarifying the target audience and goals of the publication
    • Benjamin: Recommended developing a clear business model and distribution strategy
    • Heather: Proposed expanding the focus to include younger generations planning for the future
  • Conclusion

    • The concept shows potential for addressing an underserved market in elder care and technology
    • There’s a need to refine the business model and target audience
    • Incorporating intergenerational perspectives could broaden the appeal and impact

Communal Heirlooms

Scott: Presented a project aimed at preserving and creating future versions of community assets

  • Details

    • Scott: Introduced the concept of communal heirlooms as shared resources to be stewarded into the future
    • Scott: Proposed various activities and workshops to engage communities in identifying and preserving these heirlooms
    • Scott: Shared examples of previous community engagement projects and workshops
  • Feedback and suggestions

    • Mateusz: Advised starting with existing community needs and building on those
    • Marvelous: Suggested focusing on the concept of lineage and “after things”
    • Heather: Recommended incorporating ceremonial or active human elements in designating heirlooms
    • Anna: Proposed using specific time scales to frame the project and engage communities
  • Conclusion

    • The project shows potential for strengthening community bonds and preserving cultural assets
    • There’s a need to tailor the approach to specific community needs and existing structures
    • Incorporating ceremonial elements and time-based framing could enhance engagement

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00:00 Introduction and Casual Banter

03:50 Anna’s Presentation: From Academia to Performance Art

04:35 The Impact of COVID on Students and Somatic Healing

05:27 Combining Consultancy with Somatic Healing

07:02 Tree Conservation and Community Engagement

09:25 Root Workers and Garden Parties

15:54 Feedback and Discussion

37:21 Steve’s Presentation Setup

38:34 Discovering a New Design Practice

39:29 Thesis and Storytelling

40:14 Elder Punk: A New Publication Concept

42:04 Targeting the Elder Market

43:35 Innovative Design for Elders

46:35 Exploring the Science of Falls

48:38 Engaging Elders in Design Fiction

49:51 Community Feedback and Ideas

01:01:21 Increasing Elder Agency

01:08:53 Communal Heirlooms Project

01:22:33 Reflecting on Heirlooms and Community

01:23:08 The Importance of Seeds and Future Planning

01:23:53 Ceremonial Designation of Heirlooms

01:27:58 Community Activities and Traditions

01:40:15 Challenges of Urban Living and Tourism

01:58:20 Concluding Thoughts and Farewells

Chat 00:01:50 Dré Labre: Hi, I’m transcribing this call with my Tactiq AI Extension: https://tactiq.io/r/transcribing

00:03:17 Marvelous Talking Machine: https://allpoetry.com/We-Ain’t-Got-No-Money,-Honey,-But-We-Got-Rain

00:05:51 Aaron Breetwor: Woof. Can relate to this student journey.

00:08:34 Marvelous Talking Machine: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_That_Owns_Itself

00:12:10 Benjamin Bueno De Mesquita: that’s one catchy/memorable tagline!

00:12:46 Sabrina Sullivan: Agreed. I feel like I’m going to do that in my own office to get my “werk” done.

00:12:50 Sabrina Sullivan: Reacted to “that’s one catchy/me…” with ❤️

00:13:08 Julian Bleecker: Reacted to “Agreed. I feel like …” with 🤣

00:17:01 Andrew Korf: Check out https://emergencemagazine.org/

00:17:24 Sabrina Sullivan: I have full faith that you can twerk!

00:18:16 Marvelous Talking Machine: Charlie Don’t Twerk!

00:19:07 Anna Scott: Anna@annabeatricescott.com

00:19:57 Benjamin Bueno De Mesquita: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voz6S7ryWC0

00:20:56 Julian Bleecker: Reacted to “Charlie Don’t Twerk!” with 😲

00:24:01 Aaron Breetwor: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/ S0967070X12001643

00:26:51 Shreya Thakkar: Is it a fully sustainable, zero-waste picnic? Just an idea

00:27:34 Marvelous Talking Machine: So how we gonna kick it? Gonna kick it root down

00:29:47 Mateusz Pożar: The communication gizmo sounds like a mix between Buddha Machine and a thermin.

https://se.zenminded.shop/products/fm3-buddha-machine-red 00:30:13 Julian Bleecker: Replying to “The communication gi…”

Love me Buddha Machine 00:31:34 Benjamin Bueno De Mesquita: I was not sure how that link was relevant, but I’m really going to read it… it’s a really good point about an individual “not knowing how to enjoy the activity”

00:31:35 Shreya Thakkar: Would love to think about about the squirrels and birds who make this tree their home?

00:32:16 Andrew Korf: Links culinaryartistas.com

00:32:41 Andrew Korf: https://dancemissiontheater.org

00:33:15 Andrew Korf: My contact info: +1 612 669 5398 andrew@korf.co

00:35:25 Shreya Thakkar: Sound of nature

00:36:59 Dré Labre: I saw the Talking Tree at SXSW this year https://lbbonline.com/news/giving-trees-a-voice-how-ai-and-nature-collided-in-droga5s-talking-tree

00:37:14 Marc B: Both metaphoric and actual “rhythm of the place”

00:37:20 Shreya Thakkar: Reacted to “Both metaphoric and …” with ❤️

00:37:23 Scott Paterson: https://www.wnyc.org/story/155908-the-sounds-of-the-world-trade-center/

00:37:46 Marvelous Talking Machine: Reacted to “Would love to think …” with 🌈

00:41:09 Mateusz Pożar: Crocs were a pre-product placement in Idiocracy, right?

00:41:36 Heather Sparks: They were a random costume design. They just thought they were silly-looking shoes.

00:42:22 Mateusz Pożar: And on a limited budget: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/idiocracy-crocs/

00:43:31 Mateusz Pożar: Replying to “And on a limited bud…”

“The wardrobe woman had a limited budget. […] So we shot it in 2004. She goes, she tells me, okay, there’s a startup. And it was Crocs. But they weren’t out in the world yet [and] she goes, look at these horrible plastic shoes with holes. She said we could really save a lot of money. Just put everyone in these things.

I said, well, but what if by the time the movie comes out […] these become popular and people are wearing them? She said, oh, these are never going to become popular […], these things are horrible. […] Then it took two years for the movie to come out. By then people are going like, oh, that’s pretty funny that you put everyone in Crocs.”

00:43:45 Heather Sparks: Reacted to ““The wardrobe woman …” with 😆

00:44:36 Marvelous Talking Machine: Replying to “And on a limited bud…”

Is this from “Crocs: The Crocumentary?”

00:46:07 Marvelous Talking Machine: I would never step foot in that kitchen, with that Sentinel hanging over me 🙂

00:46:13 Marc B: Reacted to ““The wardrobe woman …” with 😆

00:46:47 Mateusz Pożar: Replying to “I would never step f…”

The will upsell you on a fancy helmet

00:47:08 Benjamin Bueno De Mesquita: Reacted to “The will upsell you …” with 😅

00:47:48 Marvelous Talking Machine: Reacted to “The will upsell you …” with ⛑️

00:49:38 Andrew Korf: Replying to “I would never step f…”

Love the project 00:49:58 Andrew Korf: Replying to “I would never step f…”

Ive been tinkering with the idea of getting more old folks on e-bikes 00:51:36 Sabrina Sullivan: The design for shoes and apparel for space is interesting when they are thinking about gravity is less on the soles (not just the usual pressure downward), but it is about bouncing around, using the sides, etc. Something to learn there?

00:54:05 Aaron Breetwor: If you can believe it, I’m about to drop early to have a call with a lawyer who specializes in ADA law.

00:54:06 Marvelous Talking Machine: A shoe designed for people who are usually sitting down. Where the focus for comfort innovation isn’t the sole but the heel, for example

00:54:41 Andrew Korf: Replying to “I would never step f…”

https://bikerumor.com/greg-lemond-ebikes-company-profile/ 00:55:00 Aaron Breetwor: Please do feel free to reach out if you want to chat more. Lots of my nerding in the Trip City thread.

00:55:03 Andrew Korf: Replying to “I would never step f…”

“For Greg LeMond, eBikes are the Fountain of Youth”

00:55:10 Eastman G: Gotta jump great seeing y’all. See you next week.

00:57:50 Anna Scott: Balance and mobility are about deep muscles around the lower spine and abdomen. What if the shoes are paired with a chair and a special shirt that gets the user engaging those muscles more?

00:57:51 Benjamin Bueno De Mesquita: looks like a CB-Insights graph to me?

00:57:58 Marc B: Reacted to “Balance and mobility…” with 👍

00:58:14 Heather Sparks: Reacted to “Balance and mobility…” with 👍

00:59:13 Marc B: Replying to “Balance and mobility…”

I was trying to find a study I saw a long time ago about the relationship between balance and longevity - specifically related to falls. (It included exercises) 01:00:31 Andrew Korf: Replying to “I would never step f…”

Verily is working on some elder tech … as is Otsuka (an app that help with depression) 01:00:34 Anna Scott: Reacted to “@Anna Scott Hi Anna,…” with 👍🏾

01:03:23 Andrew Korf: Replying to “I would never step f…”

Wired Mag for greying folks 🙂 01:03:31 Scott Paterson: A thought exercise project I worked on while at IDEO: https://www.designboom.com/design/designs-on-aging-collection-by-ideo-04-24-2014/

01:03:54 Marvelous Talking Machine: Replying to “I would never step f…”

@Andrew Korf Do I do it? No I can’t. Ok I will. “Tired”

01:06:40 Anna Scott: Reacted to “I was trying to find…” with 👍🏾

01:07:24 Marvelous Talking Machine: Silvers

01:07:26 Marc B: Near Future Elders

01:07:32 Marc B: Reacted to “Silvers” with 👍

01:07:40 Dré Labre: mobility is more a metter of When than If

01:07:47 Andrew Korf: Replying to “I would never step f…”

Hahaha/.. 01:08:16 Andrew Korf: Replying to “I would never step f…”

In life sciences we talk about this idea of a “circle of care” around folks that are getting older or are sick 01:08:43 Andrew Korf: Replying to “I would never step f…”

Might be coo to think about the circle of life around elders 01:09:12 Mateusz Pożar: Elderpunkt doesn’t seem targeted towards elderly as-presented. It seems like a combo of producthunt.com and those annual fairs for tabletop games, this years xmas thingies, etc.

01:09:21 Marvelous Talking Machine: Replying to “I would never step f…”

I’m working on something with someone that will likely be published soon and I think you’ll like it. Will let you know.

01:09:24 Steve Mc: Reacted to “Elderpunkt doesn’t s…” with 👍🏼

01:10:24 Mateusz Pożar: Replying to “Elderpunkt doesn’t s…”

I’d second Scotts thoughts on who this is targeting – there are multiple ways this could go; get elder tech providers to do futures design, check market interest among investors, check with target users if this is a way they would formulate their issues, etc.

01:10:43 Andrew Korf: Reacted to “I’m working on somet…” with 👏

01:12:47 Steve Mc: Replying to “Elderpunkt doesn’t s…”

yes indeed hadn’t thought of product hunt - but advocacy and placement of near future products that support agency… yet audience really is those trying to address the market in an oblique manner…

01:12:49 Andrew Korf: Cool - boalijan theatre could be a part of this

01:13:02 Andrew Korf: Protest as performance theatre

01:13:06 Andrew Korf: Of an imagined future

01:13:07 Steve Mc: Reacted to “I’d second Scotts th…” with 👍🏼

01:14:47 Andrew Korf: This is so cool..

01:14:55 Mateusz Pożar: Link to newsletter?

01:15:23 Marvelous Talking Machine: I heard that IDEO is responsible for 47% of 3Ms income

01:15:40 Andrew Korf: Check these guys out on the podcast front: https://www.walkcast.fm/

01:15:52 Andrew Korf: Location based guide

01:16:01 Anna Scott: Love the tarot card idea for super powers

01:17:19 Dré Labre: Reacted to “I heard that IDEO …” with 😂

01:18:17 Andrew Korf: neat

01:18:24 Marc B: Like “Slacker”

01:18:34 Andrew Korf: Nice deck!

01:18:34 Steve Mc: Reacted to “I’m working on somet…” with 👍🏼

01:20:39 Steve Mc: Reacted to “I would never step f…” with 😅

01:20:56 Steve Mc: Reacted to “Near Future Elders” with 👍🏼

01:21:29 Mateusz Pożar: Here’s the org we were working with back then: https://www.enmedio.info/en

01:21:31 Steve Mc: Reacted to “A thought exercise p…” with 🙏🏼

01:21:45 Steve Mc: Reacted to “I was trying to find…” with 👍🏼

01:22:04 Steve Mc: Reacted to “Balance and mobility…” with 👍🏼

01:22:58 Steve Mc: Reacted to “The design for shoes…” with 👍🏼

01:24:08 Steve Mc: Reacted to ““The wardrobe woman …” with 😅

01:24:11 Steve Mc: Reacted to ““The wardrobe woman …” with 👍🏼

01:24:27 Marvelous Talking Machine: Afterthings: The Sequel

01:26:41 Steve Mc: Reacted to “Might be coo to thin…” with 👍🏼

01:26:43 Mateusz Pożar: Speaking about people as heirlooms – the Japanese middle age men card might be a reference: https://www.tokyoweekender.com/entertainment/middle-aged-man-trading-cards-go-viral-in-japan/

01:27:01 Heather Sparks: Reacted to “Speaking about peopl…” with 👍

01:27:06 Benjamin Bueno De Mesquita: Reacted to “Speaking about peopl…” with 🎉

01:27:27 Marc B: Reacted to “Speaking about peopl…” with 👍

01:27:43 Marvelous Talking Machine: Reacted to “Speaking about peopl…” with 👍

01:27:54 Marvelous Talking Machine: Replying to “Speaking about peopl…”

This is the greatest 01:29:29 Steve Mc: Replying to “I would never step f…”

@Andrew Korf - thx and I know one of the organizers of this - I had an image up of this group … it’s international — I bet a powered version / hybrid would help an older driver…cyclingwithoutage.com

01:30:25 Anna Scott: And also, thinking about what all the preservation makes impossible and for whom…

01:31:02 Shreya Thakkar: How to sign up?

01:31:21 Benjamin Bueno De Mesquita: @Scott Paterson link for info and signup?

01:32:15 Andrew Korf: Replying to “I would never step f…”

@Steve Mc - the market is growing fast for ebikes for old folks.. I have two aging bikers I am working with on an idea to get more old folks on ebikes

01:32:16 Marvelous Talking Machine: Forms are an heirloom

01:32:24 Anna Scott: Reacted to “Forms are an heirloo…” with 😆

01:32:29 Scott Paterson: https://calendly.com/adventuring/superpower-swap

01:32:49 Benjamin Bueno De Mesquita: I’m a big fan of the “Strengths Finder” system and this reminds me of that… but it got bought by gallup, now it’s a “paid product”…

https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/254033/strengthsfinder.aspx

01:33:33 Andrew Korf: Can you share this deck yet? Or is there a link to sign up to participate?

01:33:46 Steve Mc: Replying to “I would never step f…”

yeah my father and mother in law just bought trikes…!! Did not see that coming…for them but there’s something there too that connects to when we were kids …

01:35:40 Marvelous Talking Machine: All I can think of is Pinkman on BB

01:35:44 Scott Paterson: My newsletter: https://possibilityhours.substack.com/

01:37:22 Benjamin Bueno De Mesquita: It’s hard to be a sales-person

01:37:32 Andrew Korf: Reacted to “My newsletter: https…” with 👍

01:37:41 Dré Labre: Chef with the ceilign thing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0JAbeRxG_k

01:42:37 Marvelous Talking Machine: Fun fact: Spain was a fascist dictatorship until 1975.

01:43:48 Andrew Korf: Sorry thought I was muted - im hanging with a bunch of Brazilians

01:43:58 Shreya Thakkar: Reacted to “You still recovering…” with 🤣

01:47:46 Brandon Harwood: Austin is in a constate state of that sentiment (though I’m in Dallas) :)

01:48:04 Marvelous Talking Machine: Change is never blameless

01:48:14 Dré Labre: NIMBY = Not in my Birth Year

01:48:20 Benjamin Bueno De Mesquita: Reacted to “NIMBY = Not in my Bi…” with 😂

01:48:24 Shreya Thakkar: Reacted to “NIMBY = Not in my Bi…” with 😂

01:48:27 Benjamin Bueno De Mesquita: amazing

01:48:28 Anna Scott: Reacted to “NIMBY = Not in my Bi…” with 😆

01:48:29 Mateusz Pożar: “Backpackers are the foreriders of gentrification”

01:48:34 Marc B: It’s like that idea that you’re not stuck in traffic… you are traffic.

01:49:04 Anna Scott: Replying to ““Backpackers are the…”

Used to be artists and fancy coffee shops

01:49:33 Anna Scott: Reacted to “Change is never blam…” with 💯

01:49:59 Brandon Harwood: I feel like (as a non-new yorker) that it’s one thing I appreciate about NYC, it absolutely holds on to things over time but it feels like folks accept that it’s a constantly changing city and assign that to it’s identity

01:50:20 Mateusz Pożar: Replying to ““Backpackers are the…”

They come after

01:53:43 Dré Labre: I’m out… next call. Great side projects everyone.

01:53:52 Anna Scott: Reacted to “I’m out… next call…” with 🧡

01:54:20 Steve Mc: Reacted to “I’m out… next call…” with 🧡

01:55:36 Shreya Thakkar: Gottto go. Great session! Thanks 🙂

01:56:23 Heather Sparks: I have to jump. Thank you all! Great projects!

01:56:39 Benjamin Bueno De Mesquita: i gotta jet too!

01:56:49 Benjamin Bueno De Mesquita: see you next time!

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