OCTOPI

SOCIAL DESIGN STUDIO

OCTOPI is dedicated to collective action against systemic oppression.

We support people and projects that reimagine more inclusive futures through narrative activism, systems design and solidarity.

We have worked from grassroots to global, navigating complex information and contexts to design accessible methodologies, data illustrations, documentaries, programs, campaigns, reports, visuals, books, MEL frameworks, organisational development pathways, and theories of change.

our work is guided by the following themes:

Shifting narratives &
cultural paradigms

Challenging existing norms

and worldviews that

perpetuate harmful behaviours.

SUPPORTING INCLUSIVE
SYSTEMS DESIGN

Reshaping the structures and systemic patterns that motivate and govern our actions in the world.

Inspiring
collective action

Connecting and

catalysing communities

for transformative change.

SELECTED PORTFOLIO

TRANSITION RESOURCE CIRCLE

2022 - present

‘Post Capitalist Philanthropy – The Healing of Wealth in the Time of Collapse‘ a book by Alnoor Ladha & Lynn Murphy takes us on a journey from the history of wealth accumulation and the current logic of late-stage capitalism to the lived possibilities for other ways of knowing, sensing and being that can usher in life-centric models.

We worked closely with the authors as a design and thought partner, developing unique graphics to act as anchors for complex topics in the text. We created a visual narrative framework for the book, workshops, online platforms, and presentations to philanthropic organisations, and later developed a visual style for the organisation as a whole.

Circular Neighbourhoods

2024- pRESENT

Through the Goethe Institut’s Sustainable Together residency on circular neighbourhoods, we initiated research with over 50 community members through workshops and dialogues to identify local initiatives that support community resilience and socio-ecological restoration in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The research findings informed the development of a blueprint for community-led urban development, which was shared with external stakeholders to catalyse support for grassroots projects. This has prompted the writing of a methodology for the empathy and community-centred model of transformative research that OCTOPI adopts in all of our work.

Grassroots Economics

2021 - present

Grassroots Economics is a foundation empowering marginalised communities in Kenya through alternative resource coordination systems (previously known as Community Inclusion Currencies, CICs). We supported the organisation by developing their Theory of Change and designing an MEL framework to track the impact of their programs.

We later co-authored a Field Guide to train partners on CIC implementation, and compiled a comprehensive report for the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), providing strategic insights on scaling CICs as a tool for local economic development.

More recently, we worked with the founder to publish Grassroots Economics: Reflection and Practice – a compilation of learnings from the 15+ years Will Ruddick has spent exploring localised, indigenous monetary systems for mutual aid.

CIVICUS

2022 - PRESENT

CIVICUS is a global alliance of civil society organisations and activists working to strengthen citizen action and civil society throughout the world.

We have worked with them on various projects – developing communication frameworks for CHARM Africa partner outcomes, designing evidence-based knowledge products on CIVICUS’ involvement at the UN in detailing the Right to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly, and developing a comprehensive baseline assessment for their Local Leadership Labs. All of our work with CIVICUS has included rigorous primary and secondary research, and expertise in navigating the grassroots civil society ecosystem to develop internal and external tools for learning, advocacy, communication and organisational development.

POST CARBON INSTITUTE

2022 - 2023

Post Carbon Institute (PCI) is a think-and-do tank focused on energy, ecology, economy and equity. We collaborated with the Post Carbon Institute to detail their Theory of Change and map out their work on community resilience in response to environmental and societal system breakdowns. We provided strategic recommendations and produced learning materials that translated complex internal strategies into accessible advocacy tools for funders and partners.

CULTURE HACK LABS

2023 - PRESENT

OCTOPI has worked with Culture Hack Labs to develop visuals, reports and creative strategies for their program and platform used by narrative researchers to create cultural interventions that address climate justice and social change.

Key contributions involved curriculum and report designs, data illustrations, a collaboration with Earthrise on climate philanthropy, and creative support for the Rhizome Fellowship, all centred on narrative-led systems change and impactful storytelling.

Issue 02: Territories of Transition
Issue 06: The Carbon Fixation: How Philanthropy and Aid Miss the Real Crisis
Issue 07: Beyond the Carbon Fixation : Pathways to Regenerative Futures

LITTLE LIONS

2021-2023

Little Lions is a mental health NGO that improves the psychosocial wellbeing of vulnerable children across Africa by offering free, daily, easily accessible mental health workshops in under resourced communities hosted by trained local role models

We facilitated a 4-month design thinking process to ideate mechanisms for expanding the reach of the Little Lions program, and further supported the organisation with strategies for organisational development and produced campaign content.

By providing key insights on the core strengths of the program, we motivated strategies that prioritised local role models as central to their impact.

SUPPORTING LOCAL

2020-PRESENT

Whilst a lot of our work has been with international groups, we care a lot for the strong friendships we hold with local entrepreneurs, change makers and organisations – collaborating on projects ranging from short films to local music events, brand identities to facilitating community dialogues. Below is a gallery full of the people and spaces that inspire most of our vision for OCTOPI.

Documentaries

and short films

Khayelitsha

2020

A short film about the power of cycle tours in supporting entrepreneurs and building community in Khayelitsha, one of the largest townships in the Western Cape, South Africa.

Awards: 6th place, Nespresso Talent Competititon (out of 2,000 global entries); Winner, Vertical Movie Award (Italy)

Team:
Leila Kidson (Producer, Director)
Michael Carter (Director of Photography and Editing)
Siyabonga Mbaba

TIDAL

2018

TIDAL follows the story of Lisa Beasley and a community-initiated effort to rehabilitate marine life in the tidal pools of Cape Town.

Awards: Best Ocean Film, Wavescape Film Festival; 1st Prize in Environment & Ecology Category, International Tourism Film Festival Africa.

Team:
Leila Kidson (Producer, Researcher, Co-director)
Michael Carter (Director of Photography and Editing)
Trygve Heide (Director)

Who is behind OCTOPI?

Cara Eyre

Co-Founder & Design Lead

Cara specialises in information and communication design. She is passionate about humanising data and translating complex topics into accessible visual narratives that help make sense of the world, challenge norms, and inspire collective social change. Cara’s design leadership helps OCTOPI deliver projects that are both strategically impactful and visually engaging.

Leila Kidson

Co-Founder & lead research, strategy and social design facilitator

Leila brings a unique blend of expertise in law, journalism, systems thinking, film production, and social design, with robust experience in monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) and organisational development. Her work includes strategic research, community engagement, creative direction, and storytelling – particularly in the social justice and informal economy spaces. Leila ensures that anything she touches is empathetically designed, community-led, and impact-driven.

OCTOPI is supported by an incredible network of designers, researchers, friends and fascinating humans who have made invaluable contributions to projects over the years.

Together we align deeply on the value of network and community support systems – strongly believing that our best foot forward is one made with others. We hope to catalyse the efforts of the organisations and people that we work with by connecting them to the thinking, resources and methods they need, helping them establish strong foundations for longer-term, systemic impact. A vital component of the way we work is an ethos of empathy – we put people as priority. Without active engagement from all stakeholders and communities involved, sustainable and scalable solutions aren’t possible.

We would love to work/play/explore/chat with individuals, communities or organisations paving their own ways, so that we might support and co-create with you.