RESEARCH · DESIGN · INNOVATION
MAI UMAN
We investigate how people and organisations develop — and design new methods to turn research into meaningful change.
WHAT WE DO
RESEARCH INTO PRACTICE
We investigate complex challenges in human development and organisations, developing new design methods through applied research, experimentation and real-world projects.
HOW WE WORK
FROM QUESTIONS TO METHODS
Every project begins with a research question, not a predefined solution. We investigate complex challenges, develop tailored design methods, and refine them through experimentation and real-world application.
OUR RESEARCH PHILOSOPHY
"WHAT might we yet dare to imagine?"
OUR RESEARCH
IN THE WORLD, NOT APART FROM IT
We conduct research in real environments — with institutions, organisations and people — observing, testing and refining ideas through practice.
UNCTAD YOUTH · INTERNATIONAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
DESIGNING FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL CAPABILITY
This international research project explored how young people could move from ideas to action by developing entrepreneurial capabilities through experimentation, collaboration and real-world challenges. Working across different cultural and economic contexts, the project examined what enables initiative, adaptability and purposeful action.
BIBLIOTECA ASTRA · PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS
HOW MIGHT WE CREATE MORE HUMAN INSTITUTIONS?
This applied research project explored how a public institution could become more attentive to the people it serves — not only through services and procedures, but through experience, relationships, participation and institutional culture.
UNCTAD YOUTH · 2018–2019
DESIGNING FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL CAPABILITY
From the UNCTAD Youth Forum in Geneva to a year-long online advisory programme, this project explored how entrepreneurial capability develops across cultures, contexts and possible futures, with Acumen Academy as an educational partner.
THE RESEARCH QUESTION
WHAT ENABLES ENTREPRENEURIAL CAPABILITY ACROSS CULTURES AND CONTEXTS?
The project began to examine a gap that became visible through the Geneva forum and the year-long advisory work: initiative alone was not enough. Entrepreneurial action was also shaped by culture, context, evidence, adaptability and the ability to think beyond immediate opportunities towards possible futures.
RESEARCH APPROACH
FROM OBSERVATION TO EXPERIMENTATION
Over the following year, the inquiry combined observation, interviews, group work, workshops, scenario exploration, Design Thinking and prototyping. The methods evolved as the work progressed, allowing entrepreneurial behaviour to be examined across different cultural and economic contexts.
BIBLIOTECA ASTRA SIBIU
HOW MIGHT WE CREATE MORE HUMAN INSTITUTIONS?
This applied research project explored how a public institution could become more attentive to the people it serves - not only through services and procedures, but through experience, relationships, perticipation, and institutional culture.
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