Toban Shadlyn

Toban is drawn to the spaces between things. Between different fields and sectors, between theory and practice, between how things are and how they could be. With a background in human ecology and architecture, her practice has expanded from designing physical spaces to designing the learning and collaborative environments that shape how people work together. 

Before joining Demos Helsinki, Toban helped establish the Center for Complexity at the Rhode Island School of Design, where she built a practice using design to address challenges in healthcare, governance, and climate security. There she led a multi-year effort to reshape Rhode Island’s response to the opioid crisis, working alongside policymakers, healthcare workers, and people with lived experience of the crisis to develop a more humanistic care system. 

More recently, Toban has designed and led innovation programmes spanning government, academia, and civil society, addressing topics from civic trust, ethical technology, and regenerative development. She currently directs the Master in Strategic Design in Complexity at ELISAVA University in Barcelona, where she supports practitioners in developing the mindsets and capacities necessary to dance with an ever-shifting landscape.

Outside of work, Toban tries to keep pace with Barcelona’s packed calendar whether that’s attending the seasonal green-onion feast (otherwise known as calçotada…if you know, you know) or stumbling into whichever neighborhood is throwing its local festa that week. When she’s not out and about, she can happily spend an evening watching almost any sport, from hockey to snooker. She still faithfully follows her hometown Edmonton Oilers from afar.