My name is Mari Nakano.
I like untangling complex systems, hacking bureaucracies, shifting hierarchies, and participating in developing and applying approaches that better enable communities I am in relationship with to thrive.
I do this primarily through an ongoing practice in visual and participatory design, blending creative, structured, and emergent approaches that aim to deepen relationships and align ourselves to the needs and visions that our communities dream of.
My extensive experience in global NGOs, small start-up environments, social innovation teams, local government, non-profits, and academia has helped me develop and hone my practice as a designer, systems strategist, researcher, coach, team-builder, organizer, and educator.
My current focus is on exploring avenues to contribute meaningfully to collaborative movements centered on food sovereignty—the right of a community to identify and control how their food is produced and distributed. This commitment stems from a personal journey of deep reconnection with the land and with individuals who are lovingly stewarding our planet, empowering both myself and those around me to be stronger, more impactful contributors to this crucial movement.