What Do People Want to Know (from us)? Mapping User Needs for Second Renaissance Knowledge Commons

This started from a prompt about the design for the Research / Knowledge Commons landing page. It evolved to the more general question of what are the main job stories for people coming to a second renaissance wanting “knowledge” i.e. what knowledge/sensemaking materials could we be creating.

One insight that came out of this was that rather than a single comprehensive “commons” there may be many mini-commons / projects.

NB: This material was generated during the Research Collective Collabothon / Hackathon :wave: 4th April 2025

Summary

This was the summary/design we arrived at …

What kind of people come

  • People who are drawn to what 2R is doing …
  • People who want to contribute …
  • People who want to learn more …

Brainstorm

From @JonahW

  • Meaning of key terms - for people new to the space and confused by terminology
  • List of related organisations - for people exploring communities

For people seeking to dive into the ideas

  • Introductory resources: e.g. reading list
  • In depth articles on specific topics (encyclopedia)

From @Naeema

Breakdown of the likely knowledge interests and a hierarchical structure based on probable audience types, their level of familiarity, and their needs:

1 New Explorers (First-time visitors / Curious readers)

Primary needs: Orientation, clarity, inspiration
Looking for: What is 2R? Core concept, values, vision?
Who’s involoved and why it matters? Practicle examples (projects, stories, outcomes)
Wiki Structure for them: Start here welcome | What is 2R? | Key Concepts (simple overviews) |
Ancestors of 2R (influences) | How to get involved? FAQ?

2 Sensemakers & Connectors (Researchers, generalists, systems thinkers)

Primary needs: Frameworks, patterns, contextual insight
Looking for: Ecosystem mapping, visual sensemaking tools, related movements / communities,
deep dive into cultural and civilization analysis
Wiki structure for them: Ecosystem maps & visual Frameworks, Related movements & Influence,
Key Questions, Glossary of Terms/ Lexicom of Emergent Language

3 Practitioners (Organizers, facilitators, artists, regenerative designers, etc.)

Primary needs: Methods, tools, community, application
Looking for: Practices that support 2R principles, Case studies / success stories,
How to host, organize, or contribute to gatherings
Wiki Structure: Practices, Events and gatherings, toolkits & Protocol,
organizing in the ecosystem, people (Collaborators & contributors)

4 Deep Divers / Co-creators (Committed contributors, thinkers, or developers of the 2R project)

Primary needs: Co-creation tools, theory-building, live questions
Looking for: Particvipatory research thread (forum), Living documents and shared questions,
governance, stewardship of 2R, editing and contributing to the wiki.
Wiki structure: Questions

From @rufuspollock

First some Process and Integration Thoughts:

  • Many of these elements (directories, maps, primers) can and perhaps should begin on the forum, where contribution is easiest.
  • Critical mass in any one area (e.g., orgs, people, concepts) may justify integration or expansion into a more structured, possibly merged system.
  • While dictionaries, org directories, and people maps may eventually overlap, they should remain distinct until each reaches sufficient maturity [so that the offer to users and contributors is super clear]

Reference & Knowledge Projects

  • Lexicon / Dictionary – A definitional resource for key terms and concepts in the Second Renaissance.
  • Simple Introductions to Key Ideas – Short, accessible explainers on major concepts, for onboarding and clarity.
  • Newsletter / News Stream – Regular updates with project news, events, and community highlights.
  • Onboarding Guides for External Communities – Tailored pathways for people entering from effective altruism, climate activism, etc.

Directory & Mapping Projects

  • Directory of Organizations and People – A structured, wiki-fied list of relevant organizations and people in the ecosystem.
    • List-Slicing Functionality – Tools to group and browse orgs by theme (e.g., metamodern, integral, conferences).
    • Subgroup & Link Discovery Tools – Methods to identify clusters and relationships within the broader network.
  • Theories of Change Index – Entries that map and compare organizational theories of change.
  • ecosystem.secondrenaissance.net – A dedicated domain for mapping organizations, networks, and projects.
  • Extended Map of the Second Renaissance – A conceptual and relational map of the ecosystem as
    a whole.
    • People’s Journey Mapping – Visuals or narratives showing how individuals enter and move within the ecosystem.
2 Likes

Thanks Rufus for capturing this so clearly. Wanted to offer a more refined version of the initial brainstorm I shared, now shaped into a more intentional framing of participation archetypes within the knowledge commons.

Rather than static audience types, I’m seeing these more as fluid roles that people may move between as they deepen their relationship with the ecosystem. This framing might help us design not only the wiki structure, but also cultural pathways through the forum and the broader Second Renaissance field.

Participation Archetypes & Knowledge Needs

1. New Explorers (First-time visitors, curious newcomers)

Needs: Orientation, clarity, poetic inspiration
Looking for:

  • What is 2R? Core values, story, vision
  • Who’s involved? Why it matters?
  • How to get involved
    Structure ideas:
    Welcome thread • “Start Here” flow • Ancestors & influences • Practice examples • FAQ

Sensemakers & Connectors (Researchers, generalists, systems thinkers)

Needs: Context, pattern recognition, cross-pollination
Looking for:

  • Ecosystem maps, related movements
  • Visual tools and conceptual frameworks
  • Lexicon of emergent language
    Structure ideas:
    Key questions meta-thread • Glossary • Systems diagrams • Related movement timelines

Practitioners (Organizers, facilitators, artists, regenerative designers)

Needs: Application, tools, collaboration
Looking for:

  • Practices aligned with 2R principles
  • Case studies and examples
  • Event and hosting guides
    Structure ideas:
    Practice library • Protocols & toolkits • Event calendar • Collaborator hub

Deep Divers / Co-Creators (Committed contributors, theory-builders, stewards)

Needs: Live inquiry, shared authorship, co-creation tools
Looking for:

  • Research threads and live questions
  • Long-form collaboration
  • Participation in governance of knowledge spaces
    Structure ideas:
    Living documents • Wiki editing roles • Cultural governance • Open questions forum

Many of these elements already exist within the Second Renaissance’s online presence, the foundations are here. What feels most alive now is the need to refine the framing, illuminate the pathways, and deepen awareness around how people can navigate and contribute to these offerings. It’s less about building from scratch, and more about weaving what’s already present into a more coherent, invitational flow.