Join the Morningside Academy of Design (MAD) for the Boston-Cambridge Premiere of What Are People For: Design Philosophy by Patrick Whitney, the latest short film by acclaimed design documentarian Gary Hutwit (Helvetica, Objectified, Urbanized, Eno), and interactive design workshop on October 24th. Explore how design can address today's most complex challenges from 2-5pm with a hands-on workshop led by Evan Chan and André Nogueira. Chan and Nogueira will introduce the Whole View model, a systems design approach for reframing problems, surfacing the perspectives of diverse stakeholders, and finding new pathways forward in situations where expertise is abundant but fragmented. The session is designed for cross-sector leaders grappling with problems too complex for any one discipline to solve alone.

The workshop will be followed by a screening at 5:30pm of What Are People For. The film is part of a larger multimedia project celebrating the life and work of Patrick Whitney, a pioneering figure in applying design to complex systemic challenges. Whitney's influence on the field has been profound, even as much of his work happened out of the spotlight. This project, produced by Murmur Ring with Ashley Lukasik and André Nogueira, offers a rare opportunity to engage directly with his ideas.

Following the screening, a short panel conversation will start at 6pm, bringing the filmmakers and Patrick together to discuss design's expanding role in addressing complexity. This is a conversation built for a broad audience, regardless of prior design background. The evening will close with a reception, offering time to connect with fellow participants and the project team over refreshments. Together, the workshop, screening, and conversation create a shared foundation for dialogue and collaboration, inaugurating MAD's role as a convening space for systems design at MIT.