Unveiling the ReEVOLUTIØN 6 Model: Navigating Circular Excellence

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At Mindshake, innovation is at the heart of our mission. We constantly seek fresh perspectives and methodologies to offer our clients cutting-edge solutions for contemporary challenges in companies, organizations, and society at large. Today, we are thrilled to unveil our latest stride in this journey – the ReEVOLUTIØN 6 (ReEV6) model.

The ReEV6 Model: An Evolution of Circular Thinking

The ReEV6 model is not just an evolution; it’s a refined iteration that encapsulates the essence of circular economy principles. Building upon its predecessor, the Evolution 6 model, ReEV6 signifies a subtle yet impactful shift. The name itself, “ReEVOLUTIØN,” pays homage to the 9 R’s of the circular economy, symbolizing our commitment to sustainable resource management.

Six Phases, Subtle Refinements

Retaining the fundamental structure of six phases, the ReEV6 model brings a semantic refinement to each stage of the creative journey:

  1. Emergence: Identifying opportunities or challenges sets the stage for the activities ahead.
  2. Empathy: Focused on understanding the context deeply, this phase places empathy at the forefront of problem-solving.
  3. Exploration: This phase centers on dynamic idea generation, fostering a creative and exploratory approach.
  4. Elaboration: This phase involves prototyping, testing, and development – a practical evolution of ideas into concepts.
  5. Exposition: Aligned with the Circular concept, this phase emphasizes effective communication and persuasion in project presentation.
  6. Execution: This phase stands for the implementation and continuous improvement of Circular solutions.

Visual Redesign: A Palette of Pastels

Beyond conceptual evolution, the ReEV6 model introduces a visual redesign. Departing from the Evolution 6’s aesthetic, ReEV6 adopts a palette of pastel colors. Dotted areas strategically integrated between phases accentuate the permeability and iterative nature inherent in the creative process. This design choice visually emphasizes fluid transitions and interconnectedness, highlighting the significance of iteration and adaptability.

Strategies for Sustainable Practices

The name “ReEVOLUTIØN 6” goes beyond labeling; it represents a strategic insight aligned with our broader objective of promoting circular economy projects. Eleven pivotal strategies, corresponding to each letter in the model’s name, guide the development of sustainable practices:

  1. RETHINK Business Model
  2. efficient Use of Resources
  3. EMOTIONAL Connection
  4. VIRTUALISATION
  5. OPTIMISATION
  6. LOOP
  7. USE LONGER
  8. TRANSFORM by Design
  9. IN PLACE
  10. Ø WASTE
  11. NETWORK

A comprehensive Circular Strategies Card Game

In tandem with the ReEVOLUTIØN 6 model, we’ve developed a dynamic card game offering a practical and engaging exploration of Circular Economy. The game consists of three categories:

  1. Strategies Cards (11 cards): Educational tools elucidating foundational strategies crucial for fostering circular initiatives.
  2. Action Cards (52 cards): Specific actions organizations can undertake to infuse circularity into their practices, projects, and initiatives.
  3. Poker Cards (5 cards): Introducing a unique dimension to the game, prompting players to consider diverse angles in their circular decision-making.

Transforming Concepts into Action

This curated Circular Strategies Card Game transforms abstract concepts of circularity into tangible actions and perspectives. As an interactive and educational tool, it seamlessly aligns with the goals of the ReEV6 model, designed to be used in consulting and training.

Crafting ReEVOLUTIØN

The genesis of the ReEVOLUTIØN 6 model unfolded through a meticulous application of the Design Thinking Method, a process we’ve honed and embraced at Mindshake. In this journey, we navigated the vast landscape of concepts and stakeholders, visualizing opportunities with the precision needed for innovation. The visual finesse of the model underwent several iterations, guided by the creative hand of Mariana Mattos, our adept designer and illustrator. Having been the creative force behind Evolution 6, it only made sense for her to play a crucial role in shaping ReEVOLUTIØN.

Collaborating with Mariana was more than just a design process; it was a co-creation journey that delved into the core question: What could a Design model, centred around Circular Economy, look like? Could it be an adaptation rooted in a general Design Thinking model, and what nuances might surface?

As we deliberated on the model’s stages, defining the core objectives for each, and finalizing the visual aesthetics, we concurrently delved into crafting the primary strategies for Circular Economy. Models serve as simplified pathways through complex information, and the acronym “ReEVOLUTIØN” was supposed to be more than a label – it encapsulated a meaningful essence. Reflecting on the last handwritten notes during this ideation phase is a testament to the intricate process (see pic. 4).

In our exploration of scientific literature, we sought to identify the principles, strategies, and tools essential for a comprehensive model fostering circular economy innovation. The process involved constant validation and iteration, with real-world testing becoming a pivotal aspect.

Enter the participants of the Design Thinking workshops within the Blue Design Alliance context – their insights, reactions, and engagement proved invaluable. Exposing them to tailored techniques and templates, specifically designed to inspire sustainable and circular initiatives, enriched our model’s content and usability. The dynamic interaction in these workshops provided a real-world context for refining our approach.

Over the span of three years, as we delved deeper into practice and investigation, we curated a collection of 52 practical actions to implement Circular Economy in society. These actions, translated into the Circular Economy Card Game, became a powerful pedagogical tool during workshops. They not only fueled ideation but also sparked meaningful conversations and knowledge exchange.

An integral part of our development process involved engaging with specialists – engineers, innovators, designers, and academics with a shared passion for Sustainability and Circular Economy. These conversations not only validated our model, techniques, tools, and templates but also steered us towards specific industries and companies that could reap the most benefits from a ReEVOLUTION.

This ongoing journey of refinement, validation, and collaboration fuels our commitment at Mindshake to continually innovate and offer effective solutions to contemporary challenges faced by companies, organizations, and society as a whole. We believe in pushing the boundaries of Design Thinking to foster sustainable practices. The ReEVOLUTIØN 6 model and its accompanying card game are a testament to our commitment to innovation and our ongoing mission to navigate circular excellence

Stay tuned for more insights as we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of Circular Economy.