(ide)ate Studio

(ide)ate Studio

Professional Services

Inclusive growth strategies for big-hearted businesses.

About us

(ide)ate Studio is a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) consultancy that helps organisations explore possibilities beyond the status quo. Our mission is to create a world free from prejudice, where everyone can reach their fullest potential, regardless of race, culture, gender, or socioeconomic background. We achieve this through education and strategy, creating a space where people feel safe yet inspired by what’s possible. The only requirement is that individuals and organisations approach with humility and a genuine desire to engage meaningfully. As a for-purpose organisation, we reinvest 5% of (ide)ate’s profits into nonprofits that support our vision of accelerating equality, inclusive economic growth, and collective potential.

Website
https://www.ideatestudio.io/
Industry
Professional Services
Company size
2-10 employees
Headquarters
Melbourne
Type
Privately Held
Founded
2023
Specialties
DEI Advisory, Training, Inclusive Innovation, and Strategy

Locations

Employees at (ide)ate Studio

Updates

  • Today (December 3rd) is International Day of People with Disability. Chances are, if you haven’t had much exposure to the experiences of people living with disability, you might currently see disability through the lens of the “medical model”. While none of these models is perfect, and each only goes so far in explaining the rich and complex reality of disability, (ide)ate Studio adopts the Social & Human Rights views as they promote disability equality, acknowledge disabled people's rights to full participation as citizens & encourage co-operative problem-solving. Our hope is that we use today to reflect on how we can expand our views, extend opportunities & create equitable systems that work for everyone. #InternationalDayOfPeopleWithDisability #IDPWD #Diversity #DiversityAndInclusion #DisabilityInclusion International Day of People with Disabilities (IDPWD) Lyndal Hamwood

    • Four models of disability: The Medical Model, The Social Model, The Charitable Model, The Human Rights Model
    • The Medical Model

Our society often considers disability to be a tragedy for the individual and a burden for the family and society. This is based on an individual or “medical” approach to disability.

This model leads to a dehumanising view as it defines and categorises disabled people by their impairment, and it casts the individual as the victim or problem.

Many people with a disability have rejected this model. They say it has led to low self-esteem, poor education, undeveloped life skills, and consequent high unemployment levels. 

Since this medical or individual approach results in emotions such as fear of pity, society has traditionally not recognised disabled people's needs as "rights".
    • The Social Model

The disability community has arrived at a different model called the "social model" of disability. It posits that people with a disability are more disabled by the society that they live in than by their bodies and diagnoses.

This challenges people to give up the idea that disability is a medical problem requiring "treatment", and instead see that disability is a problem of exclusion from ordinary life as a result of social barriers and discrimination, not the individual's impairment.

The social model does not deny the existence of impairments but shifts the emphasis onto societal barriers which affect participation.
    • The Charitable Model

The charitable or “charity model” sees disabled people as in need of help and unable to do things themselves, and that non-disabled charitable people should step in to provide that support on disabled people’s behalf.

This model centres non-disabled people as “doing a good thing” in helping disabled people and can undermine autonomy and disability pride. 

This is not to say that non-disabled people and charity organisations can't provide valuable support and services, but the charity mindset can often lead to attitudinal barriers if left unchecked.

See Stella Young’s TED talk ‘I’m not your inspiration, thank you very much’ for more on the charitable model.
    • The Human Rights Model

The human rights model recognises disability is a natural part of human diversity that should be valued and says that society has a responsibility to support the impacts of impairments beyond simply removing barriers.

This model reminds us that disabled people deserve their rights. It also focuses on the pride, community and identity that come from being a disabled person. 

In some ways it combines the realities of having a disability or impairment and being disabled by an inaccessible society. It then uses a human rights framework to bring about positive change for and by disabled people and with those that support them.
      +1
  • Inclusion brings tremendous growth, scale, and innovation potential, yet, many brands miss significant opportunities by unintentionally focusing their products, services & marketing on already overserved audiences. In fact, approximately 90% of the world’s population has little or no access to the majority of products and services created. Join our Masterclass on December 10th at 11.30am AEDT to explore this upward trend, and learn what’s required to adapt existing strategies with inclusivity in mind. Link in comments for more info & to register. We hope to see you there! 😀 #InclusiveMarketing #InclusiveBrand #InclusiveThinking #InclusiveDesign #DiversityEquityInclusion #Innovation

    • Light text in blue background reads: "Most brands design for and cater to the same audience." 

Underneath, a visual image of 30+ white dots representing 90% the population that is underserved. Then there are 9 light green dots that represent 10% i.e. those whose needs are overserved.
    • Light text in blue background reads: "Our 5-Step Inclusive Marketing Masterclass takes you further."

Underneath is the same visual dot image, but this time, 20 new dots in a darker green have been added, representing the potential of inclusive practice.
    • Sign up for our FREE '5-Step Inclusive Marketing Masterclass' to learn the 5 steps top brands use to reach new audiences (without overwhelming resources). Link in comments.
  • (ide)ate Studio reposted this

    View profile for Lyndal Hamwood, graphic

    Helping businesses rethink entrenched dynamics 🧠 Founder (ide)ate Studio | Organisational Development | Transdisciplinary Innovation

    I saw a post on LinkedIn earlier about how to place value on #ideas. As someone who works in diversity and inclusion, I've seen too often how hierarchies can dilute #CognitiveDiversity. It's a whole topic in itself but it reminded me of these brilliant, almost overlooked people and companies who have changed the trajectory of history, #entertainment and #hiring because of their contributions. It's a great example of why asking "Whose perspectives are we missing here?" is so valuable. In my experience, it *always* opens up the conversation and gets people thinking beyond the default. Of course, this is a non-exhaustive list. Please tell me your favs if you have others to add ✌ #Inclusion #InclusiveInnovation #CollectiveIntelligence #Diversity (ide)ate Studio

    • Stylised black text on light background. Text reads "Brilliant minds in “unlikely” places" and the word "unlikely" is highlighted in light yellow
    • 01. Where: The “non-experts”
Example: Bletchley Park Codebreakers

In 1942, the British secret services took an unconventional approach to recruitment by running a crossword competition in the Daily Telegraph. The challenge was to solve the puzzle within 12 minutes. Those who succeeded were discreetly approached by MI5 and offered positions at Bletchley Park, where they would contribute to the war effort by breaking German codes.

This method was chosen because cryptography demands skills similar to solving crosswords—pattern recognition, lateral thinking, and interpreting incomplete information. 

Many of those recruited were ordinary citizens like teachers, linguists, and mathematicians, whose sharp problem-solving abilities made them perfect for the job. They joined a diverse team at Bletchley Park, alongside figures like Alan Turing, playing a pivotal role in cracking codes that ultimately helped shorten World War II.
    • 02. Where: The Competition 
Example: Netflix’s $1 Million Challenge 

The Netflix $1 Million Challenge, launched in 2006, aimed to improve the accuracy of Netflix's recommendation algorithm by 10%, with a $1 million reward for the first team to meet this goal.

Participants from around the globe, initially competing against one another, began to collaborate, combining their expertise in machine learning, data science, and statistics. In 2009, the winning team, BellKor’s Pragmatic Chaos, was formed when several teams merged their strengths, ultimately achieving the 10% improvement.
    • 03. Where: Neurodivergent Folks  
Example: Microsoft’s Autism Hiring Program

Joey Chemis, strong in mathematics and analytics, struggled to find employment beyond Pizza Hut due to being on the autism spectrum. Traditional job interviews were a barrier, as he couldn’t navigate the social dynamics or respond beyond simple yes or no answers. 

In 2015, Microsoft recognised that many candidates with autism faced similar challenges in passing initial screenings or interviews. To address this, they launched the Autism Hiring Program, which includes several adaptations. Candidates can bypass phone interviews, apply via email, and use their own laptops for coding tests instead of relying on traditional whiteboard exercises. This approach opens doors for individuals whose talents might otherwise go unseen in conventional hiring processes.

Today, thanks to the program, Joey is a Senior Data Scientiist in their Worldwide Global Operations.
    • So What?

When it comes to solving complex challenges, we know (and the science shows) that diverse teams outperform homogenous ones.

When we broaden our view of whose perspectives are “valuable”—whether from someone on the autism spectrum (Microsoft) or a team of professionals from seemingly unrelated fields (Bletchley Park)—and make space for different thinking, we unlock creative solutions that otherwise go unseen. 

Of course, this is easier said than done. 

If you’d like some help developing inclusive hiring, innovation or marketing strategies, we’d love to help. Just send us a message
      +1
  • (ide)ate Studio reposted this

    View profile for Lyndal Hamwood, graphic

    Helping businesses rethink entrenched dynamics 🧠 Founder (ide)ate Studio | Organisational Development | Transdisciplinary Innovation

    Contrary to popular belief, the demand for diverse teams isn’t just a response to "woke ideology." A century ago, less than 5% of the workforce held professional or technical roles. Farmers and labourers made up over a third of workers, and in these manual, routine jobs, there was little need for diverse perspectives. By the mid-1980s, cognitive routine workers became the largest segment of the workforce. Today, the modern economy is defined by complex problem-solving, innovation, and knowledge integration—work that demands diverse cognitive perspectives and skill sets. This type of work, known as Cognitive Non-Routine (CNR) work, is too complex for any one person to have all the necessary knowledge or skills. That’s why diverse teams have become essential. They bring together different perspectives, heuristics, and mental models, leading to more effective solutions and stronger competitive differentiation. What are we supposed to take from all is this? If your business... ...Serves a diverse user base ...Tackles complex problems with multiple stakeholders and possible solutions ...Requires creative thinking and independent decision-making in roles like Product, Marketing or Software Engineering Then building a strategy that attracts, retains, and advances people from underrepresented groups could be a significant advantage for you. How is your organisation designing a strategy around cognitive & demographic diversity? I'd love to discuss in the comments. #DiversityEconomics #DEI (ide)ate Studio

    • Slide title reads 'The Rise In Demand For Diverse Teams'

Top-Left Quadrant: Manual routine.
Work that involves physical labor that is repetitive in nature and mostly standardised, requiring less cognitive flexibility and problem-solving for example: Assembly line worker; Construction worker; Janitor

Top-Right Quadrant: Cognitive non-routine.
Work that involves solving complex problems, using creativity, and making independent decisions for example: Function leaders (Product, Marketing, People); Software Engineer; Architect

Bottom-Left Quadrant: Manual non-routine 
Work that involves performing physical tasks that require adaptability, dexterity, and problem-solving skills for example: Emergency medical technician (EMT); Chef; Firefighter

Bottom-Right Quadrant: Cognitive routine.
Work that involves following established procedures and using basic cognitive skills for example: Data entry clerk; Bookkeeper; Teller
    • A line graph that shows the rise of cognitive nonroutine work between the years 1983 and 2013, ranked by employee count. Other categories have not had the same trajectory or at worse, dipped and declined.
  • If your organisation operates in a diverse and dynamic marketplace, remaining responsive to shifting demographics is the lifeblood of success. Businesses that unintentionally focus on a single demographic risk missing out on a vast pool of potential customers and ultimately, stagnant growth. But how do you identify if your current strategy overlooks the needs and preferences of underserved demographics? This is the power of a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) strategy. Here are 6 warning signs that your go-to-market (GTM) efforts are falling short at best or at worst, perpetuating oppression. #GoToMarket #Inclusivemarketing #InclusiveBrand Lyndal Hamwood

    • dark text on light background reads: 
a headshot of the articles author, Lyndal, with a byline underneath, Inclusion Strategist and Founder of ideate Studio
10 Signs Your Go-to-Market Need a DEI Lens
Leveraging a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) strategy might be your go-to-market’s secret weapon.
4 min read
ideate studio logo in the bottom left 
medium.com in the bottom right
    • #1 - Customer feedback 

You’re receiving customer feedback highlighting a lack of inclusivity in your product, service, or marketing efforts. 

This could be anything from biased algorithms in your recommendation engine to marketing materials that perpetuate stereotypes, or inaccessible products and services.  Ignoring this feedback can damage your brand reputation and loyalty.
    • #2 - Using a “one-size-fits-all” approach

You operate with a “one-size-fits-all” approach, missing opportunities to tailor your product/service to cater to the specific needs and desires of different customer segments. 

For example, a fitness app designed solely for able-bodied individuals neglects the vast market for adaptive fitness solutions.
    • #3 Echo chamber effect 

Your team lacks diversity, hindering your ability to understand and connect with a broader customer base. 

A homogenous team might struggle to identify the needs and preferences of diverse customers, leading to products or services that are short-sighted.
    • #4 - Stagnant innovation 

By neglecting the needs of diverse consumers, you’re overlooking potential product/service features that could unlock new markets and innovation opportunities. 

A DEI-focused approach can spark fresh ideas and lead to the development of solutions that cater to previously underserved populations.
      +4
  • (ide)ate Studio reposted this

    View profile for Lyndal Hamwood, graphic

    Helping businesses rethink entrenched dynamics 🧠 Founder (ide)ate Studio | Organisational Development | Transdisciplinary Innovation

    What many leaders get wrong about the statement, “Diversity & Inclusion feels like just another thing to do,” is that effective leadership *is* about understanding why inclusion matters. Leaders who can cultivate engaged teams that practice inclusive behaviours have a much better chance of tapping into the collective wisdom of their people, seeing new markets, and designing experiences more people can benefit from. (ide)ate Studio & ProSocia are coming together across Oct-Nov to combine modern leadership principles with DEI, to support emerging leaders to not only navigate but embrace the incredible potential that comes when diverse teams feel safe and valued. Join us? 👉 https://lnkd.in/gNaK9bi3 Olivia Burmester Caidyrn Roder #CollectiveWisdom #CollectiveIntelligence #InclusiveLeadership #ModernLeadership

    • A GIF of a stage performer spinning 6 plates. He is wearing a purple jacket and tie, rushing between them to keep them spinning.,
  • Find & Delight New Customers in 5 Steps | Step 4: Test and Iterate Inclusively. Yesterday we shared how to find & delight new customers by designing for flexibility and accessibility (Step 3). Today, we share prompts to help decision-makers understand their level of inclusion when testing and iterating. 🟩 Answers with a green face indicate good practice. 🟨 Yellow indicates elements of good practice but there is room for improvement. 🟥 Red indicates risk is likely on the horizon. What would you add? What steps do you take to test and iterate inclusively? Tomorrow we’ll share prompts and suggested actions for Step 5: Inclusion in Organisational Culture. If you don't want to wait and would like to receive the full, extended 'Find & Delight New Customers in 5 Steps' toolkit, drop a comment below & we'll send it across. Alt text in images. #Day4 #Accessibility #InclusiveDesign #InclusiveInnovation #InclusiveStrategies #DiversityEquityInclusion

    • For big-hearted brands ready to thrive in today's diverse market
Find & Delight New Customers in 5 Steps
Step 4
    • Inclusion brings tremendous growth, scale and innovation potential. However, many brands miss out on significant growth opportunities by primarily focusing on white, heterosexual, non-disabled, customers and overlooking underserved customer segments. 

This not only perpetuates exclusion but also diminishes their reach and competitive edge in an increasingly diverse marketplace. 

To build resilience, it's essential to adopt a strategy that goes beyond the traditional approach - which is why we look at audience strategy through the lens of inclusivity. 

The Find & Delight New Customers in 5 Steps series is designed to help you understand where you are + share practical ways that you can connect with underserved audiences and grow your brand reach through inclusive, ethical and sustainable strategies.
    • Dark text on light green background reads 'On one hand, consumer demand for inclusivity in brands is growing, as is Australia’s diversity, with the population becoming older, more culturally diverse, and more gender-diverse than in previous years. 

200% Increase in Search Interest
73% Increase in Purchase Intent
64% Increase in Brand Trust
41% Increased Brand Advocacy
36% Increased Order Value
35% Outperform Competitors

Each of these shifts requires a unique, dynamic approach--and it’s worth it. Businesses who integrate inclusive thinking & practice see the below benefits:
    • Step 4: Test and Iterate Inclusively

Testing and iterating inclusively is essential for refining your products and ensuring they truly meet the needs of diverse users.
    • 1. How often do you test your products, services or experiences with a diverse group of users?
A - Regularly, as a core part of our development process
B - Occasionally, but not consistently
C - Rarely, if ever
      +4
  • (ide)ate Studio reposted this

    View profile for Olivia Burmester, graphic

    ProSocia Co-founder | Principal Consultant l Cultivating environments where people and organisations thrive

    “I've recently started my first leadership role, but I haven't  been given any training or support. I feel like I've been thrown in the deep end and I am expected to learn everything by myself!”  Does this sound familiar? Moving into a leadership role is one of the toughest transitions in business as you go from doing the work to creating the right environment to do the work, yet only 13% of new leaders get the support they need.  ProSocia and (ide)ate Studio have joined forces to offer an innovative and interactive leadership course to help leaders foster inclusive, collaborative environments that are essential to drive successful and sustainable business outcomes. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from diverse industries while building connections with a network of peers. The course covers following topics:  -Psychological Safety -Growth Mindset -Coaching & Feedback Techniques -Empowering Teams: Outcome Focused Leadership For more information, visit the event link. #leadership #psychologicalsafety #development #Growthmindset #coaching #feedback #outcomefousedleadership #culture

    Leadership for the Modern Age | Humanitix

    Leadership for the Modern Age | Humanitix

    events.humanitix.com

  • (ide)ate Studio reposted this

    Find & Delight New Customers in 5 Steps | Step 3: Design for Flexibility and Accessibility. Yesterday we shared how to find & delight new customers by involving diverse perspectives (Step 2). Today, we share prompts to help decision-makers understand their level of inclusion when designing for flexibility and accessibility. 🟩 Answers with a green face indicate good practice. 🟨 Yellow indicates elements of good practice but there is room for improvement. 🟥 Red indicates risk is likely on the horizon. What would you add? What steps do you take to test for flexibility and accessibility? Tomorrow we’ll share prompts and suggested actions for Step 4: Test and Iterate Inclusively. If you don't want to wait and would like to receive the full, extended 'Find & Delight New Customers in 5 Steps' toolkit, drop a comment below & we'll send it across. Alt text in images. #Day3 #Accessibility #InclusiveDesign #InclusiveInnovation #InclusiveStrategies #DiversityEquityInclusion

    • For big-hearted brands ready to thrive in today's diverse market
Find & Delight New Customers in 5 Steps
STEP 3
    • Inclusion brings tremendous growth, scale and innovation potential. However, many brands miss out on significant growth opportunities by primarily focusing on white, heterosexual, non-disabled, customers and overlooking underserved customer segments. 

This not only perpetuates exclusion but also diminishes their reach and competitive edge in an increasingly diverse marketplace. 

To build resilience, it's essential to adopt a strategy that goes beyond the traditional approach - which is why we look at audience strategy through the lens of inclusivity. 

The Find & Delight New Customers in 5 Steps series is designed to help you understand where you are + share practical ways that you can connect with underserved audiences and grow your brand reach through inclusive, ethical and sustainable strategies.
    • Dark text on light green background reads 'On one hand, consumer demand for inclusivity in brands is growing, as is Australia’s diversity, with the population becoming older, more culturally diverse, and more gender-diverse than in previous years. 

200% Increase in Search Interest
73% Increase in Purchase Intent
64% Increase in Brand Trust
41% Increased Brand Advocacy
36% Increased Order Value
35% Outperform Competitors

Each of these shifts requires a unique, dynamic approach--and it’s worth it. Businesses who integrate inclusive thinking & practice see the below benefits:
    • Step 3: Design for Flexibility and Accessibility

Designing for flexibility and accessibility ensures your products and services can be used by as many people as possible, regardless of ability or circumstance.
    • 1.  How accessible are your products, services or experiences to people with disabilities?

A - Fully accessible, meeting all relevant standards 
B - Partially accessible, with some improvements needed 
C - Unsure or not accessible, with significant barriers present
      +4
  • Find & Delight New Customers in 5 Steps | Step 3: Design for Flexibility and Accessibility. Yesterday we shared how to find & delight new customers by involving diverse perspectives (Step 2). Today, we share prompts to help decision-makers understand their level of inclusion when designing for flexibility and accessibility. 🟩 Answers with a green face indicate good practice. 🟨 Yellow indicates elements of good practice but there is room for improvement. 🟥 Red indicates risk is likely on the horizon. What would you add? What steps do you take to test for flexibility and accessibility? Tomorrow we’ll share prompts and suggested actions for Step 4: Test and Iterate Inclusively. If you don't want to wait and would like to receive the full, extended 'Find & Delight New Customers in 5 Steps' toolkit, drop a comment below & we'll send it across. Alt text in images. #Day3 #Accessibility #InclusiveDesign #InclusiveInnovation #InclusiveStrategies #DiversityEquityInclusion

    • For big-hearted brands ready to thrive in today's diverse market
Find & Delight New Customers in 5 Steps
STEP 3
    • Inclusion brings tremendous growth, scale and innovation potential. However, many brands miss out on significant growth opportunities by primarily focusing on white, heterosexual, non-disabled, customers and overlooking underserved customer segments. 

This not only perpetuates exclusion but also diminishes their reach and competitive edge in an increasingly diverse marketplace. 

To build resilience, it's essential to adopt a strategy that goes beyond the traditional approach - which is why we look at audience strategy through the lens of inclusivity. 

The Find & Delight New Customers in 5 Steps series is designed to help you understand where you are + share practical ways that you can connect with underserved audiences and grow your brand reach through inclusive, ethical and sustainable strategies.
    • Dark text on light green background reads 'On one hand, consumer demand for inclusivity in brands is growing, as is Australia’s diversity, with the population becoming older, more culturally diverse, and more gender-diverse than in previous years. 

200% Increase in Search Interest
73% Increase in Purchase Intent
64% Increase in Brand Trust
41% Increased Brand Advocacy
36% Increased Order Value
35% Outperform Competitors

Each of these shifts requires a unique, dynamic approach--and it’s worth it. Businesses who integrate inclusive thinking & practice see the below benefits:
    • Step 3: Design for Flexibility and Accessibility

Designing for flexibility and accessibility ensures your products and services can be used by as many people as possible, regardless of ability or circumstance.
    • 1.  How accessible are your products, services or experiences to people with disabilities?

A - Fully accessible, meeting all relevant standards 
B - Partially accessible, with some improvements needed 
C - Unsure or not accessible, with significant barriers present
      +4

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