About

Scott Paterson brings 30 years of experience helping organizations design new ways to solve complex challenges. As the founder of Adventure Ventures, visiting lecturer at IESE Business School and former IDEO consultant, he's worked with governments, corporations, and startups across the globe - from transforming Singapore's Ministry of Manpower, envisioning fintech futures for Nubank in Brazil, or creating the revolutionary "Department of Doing" in Gainesville. There is even a Harvard Business School case study about his work with IDEO in Peru.

What makes Scott unique? He operates at the intersection of design, economics, and policy - believing that real change happens when these three forces work together. He's the rare designer who's actually lived in the communities he's designing for, from small Florida towns to bustling international cities. 

Scott is also the host of "Possibility Hours" podcast and author of the foresights newsletter FIELD REPORT and the thought-provoking essay "Seeing Upside Down and Around Corners." His philosophy? Be a "reluctant optimist" - always imagining how things could be better while staying grounded in reality.

His ground-breaking career is a story often sought after. Some recent examples include being featured in the recently published book "Architects After Architecture" published by Routledge and a recent podcast interview: Reluctant Optimist: Designing Cities for Change with Scott Patersons.

 
 

Community

Advanced Air Mobiliy Assoc., Architect of the Capitol, Banfield, Breakout, California College of the Arts, Cities of Gainesville, Los Angeles, Palo Alto, Contra Costa Health Services, Creative Time, Embraer, EmbraerX, Fair Trade USA, Google, IDEO, IESE Business School, Intel, Lakeland Economic Development Council, Mercy Corps, Mursion, Nike, Nubank, Parsons School of Design, Peace Corps, Spark Festival NZ, Singapore Ministry of Manpower, Steelcase, US Dept of Energy, Walker Art Center, Whitney Museum of American Art

Testimonials

  • “Optimism with wisdom, hope with experience.”

  • ”Your ability to meet and connect with strangers or new people is a gift.”

  • ”Changed my life!”

  • ”Good questions from a outsider perspective”

  • ”Very friendly and created a flow to be open and vulnerable”

  • ”Left with a heart full”