At the 28th Knowledge and Demo Day on July 5, the ‘Digital’ workshop focused on the Transformation Canvas: a powerful tool for translating complex societal challenges into actionable strategies for change. Ocean Conijn from the Digital Society School guided participants through the framework, using the question of how data can support healthier eating habits among students as a real-world case study.
What is the Transformation Canvas?
The Transformation Canvas helps teams and organisations break down societal or systemic issues into five essential components:
- Situation – What is the current context?
- Transformation – What does the desired change look like?
- Outcome – What are the best- and worst-case scenarios?
- Change – What shift do we want to see (from – to)?
- Research Question – What is the central question?
This structure provided a clear framework during the session, where participants worked on a self-selected case study.
From Supermarket Data to Behavioural Change
The session began with a participant's question: supermarkets hold valuable data on purchasing behaviour but don’t share it due to commercial interests. How can we shift this mindset?
As the discussion progressed, the focus shifted from “What do we want to know?” to a more fundamental question: “Why do we want to know it?” Students often eat unhealthy when they are at school. The central challenge became: how do we break this pattern using both data and behavioural insights?
What Did We See?
Current Situation:
• Supermarkets hold crucial data on eating behaviour.
• Municipalities want to use this data to shape health policies.
• But there are concerns around privacy, ownership, and commercial interests.
Desired Transformation:
• Not just access to data, but a shared sense of urgency among all stakeholders.
• Healthy eating becomes a natural part of daily life (for students and companies).
Scenarios: From Worst to Best Case
Worst case:
• No access to usable data
• Increasing resistance from businesses
• Poor representation among participants
• Data turns out to be unreliable or incomplete
Best case:
• Open and secure data sharing
• Real behavioural change among students
• Supermarkets adapt their product offerings
• Companies take the initiative in the food transition
From Idea to Action: Creative Solutions
Participants were challenged to imagine solutions they could start building tomorrow. Some ideas included:
• “Snack Rehab Clinic” – A playful but serious intervention where individuals gain awareness of their eating behaviour and voluntarily share data to break habits.
• Collaboration with supermarkets like Albert Heijn via the Bonus app – By using personal purchase data, users could be ‘nudged’ toward healthier choices, with transparency and rewards at the core.
There wasn’t enough time during the workshop to complete the entire canvas, but participants got a preview of how the tool works in practice. Are you curious about the Transformation Canvas or interested in using it in your own work? Send us a message, and we’ll connect you with Ocean from the Digital Society School.
