Pillar 03
Experiments
evidence, not testimonialsA living library of community designs, tested with real communities and measured honestly. We pilot engagement formats, governance structures, and program designs. Then we publish the numbers.
The approach
Every design gets measured
We don't run experiments to see what feels good. We run them to see what actually works. Engagement rates, retention curves, community-health metrics. If a design doesn't work, the numbers say so.
Pilot with real communities
We co-run designs with partner communities and measure what actually happens. Not surveys. Not opinions. Behaviour.
Measure with the Community-Health Index
Engagement, retention, and network structure, tracked over time. Every pilot gets the same yardstick so designs are comparable.
Share the full picture
Working designs become reusable kits with the playbook, the timeline, the measurements, and what we'd change. The failures are documented too.
What we test
Design categories
Event and gathering formats
Different ways to convene a community, measured for engagement and retention. Short forms, long forms, hybrid, cross-community gatherings.
Engagement and retention designs
Program structures that keep people coming back. Cohort models, progression systems, ritual cadences, re-engagement flows.
Governance and decision structures
How communities decide together. Lightweight coordination, shared ownership, conflict resolution patterns, contribution pathways.
Onboarding and growth patterns
How new members enter and find their place. First-touch designs, mentor matching, progression from lurker to contributor.
In the field
Active pilots
Cohort engagement benchmark
Testing a 12-week cohort structure across 5 programs. Measuring: attendance rate, week-over-week retention, and post-program engagement.
Cross-community gathering format
A gathering format for communities that share members but not infrastructure. Measuring: new-connection rate and follow-on engagement.
Progressive onboarding flow
A staged onboarding sequence for new community members. Measuring: week-1 return rate and first-contribution timing.
How it works
How a pilot runs
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Partner with a community
We co-design the pilot with a community that wants to test something specific.
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Measure the baseline
Community-Health Index before anything changes, so there is something to compare against.
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Run the design
A fixed window, with engagement and retention tracked the whole way through.
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Publish the findings
The numbers, the playbook, and what we would change. The failures too.
Pilot a design with us
We partner with community builders who want to test something new and measure what happens. You get the design, the data, and the playbook.