Design you Own: Decision Model
How do you make decisions on your own, and in groups?
- Decision-making systems act as filters, helping you choose and prioritise options that align with your purpose.
- Designing these systems requires sensitivity, as people often hold strong beliefs about what is right or appropriate.
5 Types of Decision Making
Drawing Decisions: using shapes to understand our decision making style.
Behavioural Decision-Making Shape: Bridge
Why: A bridge captures the people-first, empathetic, and relational nature of this approach, focusing on care, trust, and harmony.
Collaborative Decision-Making Shape: Circle
Why: A circle represents equality, unity, and inclusiveness—everyone has an equal voice, and ideas circulate through shared space.
Analytical Decision-Making Shape: Triangle
Why: A triangle suggests structure, hierarchy, and a step-by-step path to the top—perfect for a methodical, evidence-based model.
Rational Decision-Making Shape: Square
Why: A square reflects logic, order, and stability with clear, linear steps and rational structure toward suitable solutions.
Conceptual Decision-Making Shape: Star
Why: A star symbolizes creativity, vision, and reaching in multiple directions, it represents brainstorming, long-term thinking, and expansive ideas.
Using shapes to respond to senarios
For each of these scenarios, draw a shape or collection of shapes that you would use to respond to the scenario:
1. Programming Decision
“What mix of performances, workshops, and exhibitions should we include in our next season?”
This requires balancing community interests, artist availability, diversity of genre, and funding priorities.
2. Partnership Decision
“Should we collaborate with a commercial sponsor to expand our reach, or stay independent to protect our values?”
This involves ethical considerations, financial sustainability, and long-term impact on brand and community trust.
3. Audience Access Decision
“How do we make our events more inclusive for disabled and underserved audiences?”
This decision includes operational planning, budget allocation, physical access, communication design, and co-production with affected communities.
Now consider a live decision you have to make, what combination of shapes could you use?
What processes and practices would you need?
Healing-Centred Design: Filter
Watch this video to find out more about the principle of ‘Filter’ which is all about decisions, boundaries, prioritising and choosing. We teach this within our framework to create healthy work cultures. Learn more in The Brilliant Club