Dynamic4 Ideas
Ideas and reflections on regenerative leadership, design thinking, innovation, wellbeing, and purpose… to help you solve problems that matter
SydDT #130: The Hidden Performance Skills of Great Designers with Pamela Pilawa & Wai Yin Vicente Kwok
At SydDT #130, Pamela Pilawa and Wai Yin Vicente Kwok explore the hidden performance skills of great designers – presence, improvisation, atmosphere, and facilitating human interaction.
What Do You Expect?
Leading change can bring a deep sense of achievement and joy… and still leave us feeling squeezed. Drawing on my research, I explore rising expectations, the mixed feelings they bring, and what people value in the leaders they’ve worked with.
SydDT #131: Lead Change That Matters with Ben Pecotich
Join Ben Pecotich at SydDT #131 for the soft launch of his new book Lead Change That Matters… and explore how to design the conditions for momentum.
My New Book Has a Name
My new book has a name… Lead Change That Matters: Design the Conditions for Momentum. Here’s why the title won, what it means for the book, and what comes next.
SydDT #132: State of the Design Nation with Ben Crothers & Min Kong
We’ll be celebrating all things design and reflecting on the state of the design nation at Sydney Design Thinking #132 with Ben Crothers and Min Kong sharing their reflections as a couple of the judges for the 2026 Good Design Awards.
What should I call my new book about leading change?
I’m writing a new book about leading change. Here’s how it came about, who it’s for, what I hope it will achieve, and how you can help choose the title.
SydDT #129: Community Social
For SydDT #129, we’re having some casual community drinks. No formalities or talks, just a good chance to connect with the community. New friends and old.
Build Your AI Operating System… Regen OS for Better Thinking, Decisions & Momentum
Watch the recording of my Regen OS workshop – how to build an AI operating system you own, for better thinking, clearer decisions, and more momentum.
SydDT #128: When Does Design Become Strategic?
At SydDT #128, Dr Leanne Sobel, Jaimes Nel, Lize Wordsworth, Paul Merrell, and Dr Laura Kostanski shared their perspectives on when design becomes strategic – and how designers can turn intent into meaningful change.
SydDT #127: The Human Loop – Keeping the Customer at the Core of AI
At SydDT #127 for our 11th birthday event, Riley Coleman, Kristin de la Fuente, Alex Zinoviev, and Tarra van Amerongen explored how to keep people, customers, judgement, creativity, and trust at the centre as AI becomes part of more of what we design and do.
Thanks for 11 Years of Sydney Design Thinking
SydDT turns 11 today – a community of 10,000+ people exploring design, innovation, and solving problems that matter. Thanks to the SydDT members, speakers, graphic recorders, sponsors, collaborators, and organisers.
SydDT #126: Global Accessibility Awareness Day
We celebrated Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) at SydDT #126 in collaboration with Remarkable and Atlassian and a great lineup of speakers working directly on inclusive and accessible solutions.
SydDT #125: From Assumption to Evidence: Prototyping at the Right Fidelity with Gordon Burnett
We were lucky to have Gordon Burnett talking about prototyping at the right level of fidelity to answer the right questions at the right time at Sydney Design Thinking (SydDT) #125.
B Corp Month 2026
March is B Corp Month. At Dynamic4, we’re proud to have been a certified B Corp for over 10 years. A global movement of more 10,000 businesses!
SydDT #124/Design Connection #7: IWD. Building Positive Change in Our Workplaces & Society
We were lucky to have Emma Carter on elevating design inside organisations, Catherine Fitzpatrick on redesigning products for safety, and a panel led by Kate Ingram exploring this year’s IWD theme: Balance the Scales at SydDT #124.
SydDT #123: From Conflict to Co-creation with Authenticity with Sarah Stokes & Shari Elle
We were lucky to have Sarah Stokes and Shari Elle lead us through an interactive session on moving from conflict to co-creation at SydDT #123 on Thursday night. How to structure hard conversations with nonviolent communication.
SydDT #122/Design Connection #6: EOY Design Megameetup
For our 15th and final SydDT for 2025, we reflected on and celebrated the year that’s been. We did this one as Design Connection #6.
Success will make us happy. Right?
Success will make us happy… right? Explore why purpose and happiness are things we create and keep creating, and how small actions can make a big difference.
SydDT #121: State of the Design Nation
We were lucky to have Ben Crothers, Nila Rezaei, and Brandon Gien share their observations on that state of design at SydDT #121… and this year we went beyond the state of the design nation in Australia by adding reflections on the recent World Design Congress in London and the Seoul Design Award.
From brickie… to what?
How’s this?
Reflecting on my 32+ year transdisciplinary career – from bricklayer to regenerative leadership, strategy, design, tech, and wellbeing with Dynamic4.
From Solo AI to Human–AI Collaboration
Reflections from Miro Canvas 25 on the shift from single-player AI to human-AI collaboration, and how neuroscience can help us navigate the change.
AICD Essential Director Update 2025
Are you turning compliance into strategic capability? Climate, AI, data, and cyber governance require effective and high performing boards.
What market are you really in?
Before jumping into solutions, understand what market you’re really in. Learn how market research reduces risk, builds empathy, and drives impact.
SydDT #120/Australia Design Thinking: SXSW Sydney Meetup
We were stoked that SydDT was part of the official SXSW Sydney program again for 2025. This time as the Australia Design Thinking (AusDT) collective for a casual and interactive meetup in The Ideas Dome in the middle of Tumbalong Park.
4 Years of Solve Problems That Matter!
Four years ago today I launched my book Solve Problems That Matter, a playbook that guides you through designing, building, and launching your ideas.
SydDT #119: Identify Your Superpower & Tell Your Story with Jacalin Ding
We were lucky to have Jacalin Ding lead us through an interactive workshop on communicating your value at SydDT #119.
24 Years of Dynamic4
Celebrating 24 years of Dynamic4. Thanks to the awesome people and communities I get to spend my time with… our team, clients, collaborators, program participants, and students. I love the work we do together.
Dynamic4 Strategy: Horizon 2030
Dynamic4’s strategy outlines our purpose, vision, and theory of change – it describes where we’ll play and how we’ll win together.
Gold Coast Design Thinking (GCDT) Community
A massive welcome to Gold Coast Design Thinking (GCDT) who have officially joined our Australia Design Thinking (AusDT) collective!
How is Leadership Changing?
How do you see leadership changing in your world? Are you leading with influence – or relying on your title?
B is for Progress
Progress means raising the bar, not once – but again and again. Being a B Corp isn’t about being perfect or chasing one-off wins. It’s about challenging business as usual.
Australia Design Thinking SXSW Sydney Meetup
See you at SXSW Sydney 2025 for a fun interactive meetup with the Australia Design Thinking (AusDT) collective!
SydDT #118: Wicked Solutions for Wicked Problems with Frank Newman
We were lucky to have Frank Newman lead us through a fun and interactive workshop on exploring wicked solutions for wicked problems at SydDT #118.
Melbourne Design Thinking #1/ SydDT #117: Failing Forward in Design
An awesome launch of the sold out Melbourne Design Thinking (MelbDT) meetup on Thursday night. A fun energised vibe in the room with loads of engaged people ready to connect and build community.
How do I fail?
How do I fail? I’ve been reflecting on this question and my relationship with failure as I prepare for a short talk and panel discussion on Failing Forward in Design. It’s the topic we’re exploring at the inaugural Melbourne Design Thinking meetup tomorrow night.
World Design Congress 2025: Design for Planet
The theme for World Design Congress 2025 is Design for Planet… and the design brief is “designing a regenerative future for all”.
There’s a better way to do business
It’s time to move beyond outdated business models rooted in profit at any cost. The age of the Fat Cat is over. There’s a better way to do business.
Active Recovery
Building the integrated workflows, rhythms, and habits with just enough structure to create sustainable momentum is one of the key things I help people with.
Building Tomorrow’s Sustainability Teams for Group 2 & 3 Companies
Building sustainability teams in Group 2 & 3 companies to turn climate reporting into strategic opportunities for growth in a rapidly evolving market.
SydDT #116: Corporate Therapy with Matt Anderson & Rob O’Donnell
We were lucky to have Matt Anderson and Rob O’Donnell lead us through a Corporate Therapy session at SydDT #116.
Reflecting on Where I’m at with the AI Revolution
GPT-5 just launched, but the bigger picture is how AI is changing our lives. Cleo Abram’s interview with Sam Altman digs into his perspective… and I reflect on where I’m at with AI.
Attention Matters: Design for Flow
We live in a time where our attention is the most precious – and precarious – resource. Constant demands on our attention can leave us wondering if deep work is still possible at all.
Perplexity Comet
I’ve got a new default browser. My invite to Perplexity’s Comet landed today. Reflecting on my first impressions.
SydDT #115: Celebrating Indigenous Entrepreneurship & NAIDOC Week
To celebrate NAIDOC Week, we were lucky to collaborate with Stephen Rutter from First Nations Finance to bring together a group of awesome Indigenous changemakers who are designing better ways to protect Country, use technology for culture, and back the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Happy NAIDOC Week!
Happy NAIDOC Week! The theme this year is The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy. It marks 50 years of honouring and elevating Indigenous voices, culture, and resilience.
The Right Coach for You?
Good coaching helps you cut through the noise and get clarity on your directions, goals, priorities… and turn it into action.
Zoom In on Your Organisational Context
Map the external forces, trends, and patterns impacting your business model with a context analysis. Fresh insights to design solutions your customers love.
Think Visual Meetup. The Mind’s Eye: Neurodiversity & The Creative Practice
On Wednesday, 21 May, Diana Ayoub will host a conversation between Josh Bradshaw and I (we have aphantasia) and Alan Chen (who is at the other end of the spectrum with hyperphantasia). What’s that mean? Join us to find out…
SydDT #114: 10th Birthday & Designing Spatial Interactions in Living Spaces
Steven Bai, Rianna Mo, Ian McArthur, Jessie Wen, Jason Ho shared their experience designing spatial interactions in living spaces around the world and with different cultures at Sydney Design Thinking #114. We also celebrated our 10th birthday… and 10,000 members!
The Evolution of Australia Design Thinking
The Australia Design Thinking collective is growing! We’re now in Sydney, Adelaide, Byron, and Brisbane – with Melbourne coming soon.