We help people remix how the(ir) world works.
Only People is a network of experts designed
to help individuals and organizations change with personalized, project-based learning experiences.
Our work is inspired by the art and activism of John Lennon and Yoko Ono and informed by the science and research of educators at Stanford University.
We use scientifically proven approaches
to help individuals and organizations move from moment to momentum.
From Moment
to Momentum
How might we help you?
Yes is the answer.
Or keep scrolling to learn more.
“Make no mistake
it's our future we're
making”
- John Lennon
We believe in the magic of making and we practice
the science and art of project-based learning experiences
in all of our work.
Because it’s not about the work we make; it’s about what the work makes us.
Only People was made from our work onboard The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus and the Stanford University.
Learn more about how The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus has worked to inspire people through the art and activism of John Lennon and Yoko Ono.
Learn more about how the Stanford d.school approaches learning experience design and why the ability to “navigate ambiguity” is one of the most important things we can learn.
…
We help you see where you want to be.
What do you really, really want?
Yes. That is a lyric from the Spice Girls.
Because knowing what you want, what you really, really want, is hard.
But we can help you imagine the world you want to see and the person you want to be.
If you know what you want, then we might be a good fit.
But if you don’t know what you want, then we might be a really good fit.
…
We help you see what you need.
All they we’re sayin’ is give peace a chance.
Inspired by the art and activism from John Lennon and Yoko Ono we share examples from their work to help see a new way forward with your work.
We then use visual facilitation methods to reduce the friction of jargon and allow for communities and cultures to build on their existing ways of wording and working.
Explore the songs and solutions for inspiration and to help us learn how you want to talk about it with us.
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The songs says
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
This might sound like:
Design Fiction:Design fiction is a creative practice that uses narrative and speculative scenarios to explore and critique potential futures. By crafting stories, artifacts, and experiences, it helps to envision and question the implications of new technologies and societal changes.
Speculative Design:
Speculative design is an approach that imagines and prototypes possible futures to challenge assumptions and provoke discussion. It uses design to explore hypothetical scenarios, encouraging people to think critically about the future and the impact of their decisions.
Futures Thinking:
Futures thinking is a strategic approach that anticipates and prepares for possible future developments. It involves analyzing trends, envisioning various scenarios, and considering the long-term implications of current actions to make informed decisions and shape a desired future.
Strategic Foresight:
Strategic foresight is the practice of systematically exploring, predicting, and preparing for future opportunities and challenges. It combines trend analysis, scenario planning, and visioning to help organizations make better long-term decisions and build resilience against uncertainty.
Scenario Planning:
Scenario planning is a method used to develop and analyze multiple, plausible future scenarios. By considering different possibilities and their impacts, organizations can create flexible strategies that are robust under various future conditions, enhancing their ability to adapt and thrive.
All we are sayin'is call it whatever works for you…
-
The songs says
Say we want a revolution
We better get on right away
Well, get then on your feet
And enter the street
Singin’ power to the people
Radical CollaborationRadical collaboration is about breaking down silos and co-creating solutions with diverse stakeholders. It’s not just about working together—it’s about shifting power, sharing knowledge, and designing with, not for. When voices from every level contribute, organizations don’t just grow; they evolve.
Community-Led Innovation
True innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum—it happens in the streets, the forums, the living conversations of a community. Community-led innovation harnesses collective intelligence, ensuring the people closest to the problem are the ones shaping the solution. When design starts at the grassroots, it doesn’t just solve problems—it builds movements.
Participatory Design
Power isn’t something you hold—it’s something you share. Participatory design invites users, employees, and stakeholders into the process, ensuring solutions are not only effective but deeply owned. When people design their own futures, change doesn’t just happen—it lasts.
Co-Governance
Leadership isn’t about making all the decisions—it’s about distributing decision-making power. Co-governance creates systems where employees, customers, and communities have real agency in shaping policies, priorities, and processes. When people have a stake, they show up with purpose.
Decentralized Leadership
Top-down is out. Networks are in. Decentralized leadership redistributes authority, making space for collective intelligence and agile decision-making. It’s not about one voice leading—it’s about many voices, empowered and aligned. When leadership is shared, organizations don’t just respond to change—they drive it.
All we are sayin’
is call it whatever works for you.
-
The song says:
We’re playing those mind games together, pushing the barriers, planting seeds
This might sound like:
Inner Leadership
The hardest person you’ll ever have to lead is yourself. Inner leadership is the foundation of outer impact—learning to navigate your own fears, biases, and blind spots so they don’t unconsciously steer the ship. Great leaders don’t just manage others; they manage their own minds first.
Cognitive Mastery
Leadership isn’t just about strategy—it’s about mental discipline. Cognitive mastery is the ability to recognize limiting beliefs, challenge assumptions, and build the mental resilience needed to make high-stakes decisions. When you learn to master your mind, you learn to master the moment.
Emotional Intelligence in Action
It’s not enough to understand emotional intelligence—you have to apply it. Leaders who cultivate self-awareness, social awareness, and emotional regulation don’t just create better work environments; they drive better business outcomes. Because in high-pressure situations, logic alone won’t get you through—emotional clarity will.
Unlearning & Relearning
What got you here won’t get you there. The best leaders aren’t just learners—they’re unlearners, willing to shed outdated habits and adopt new ways of thinking. Unlearning and relearning is the leadership superpower that keeps you ahead of change, rather than chasing it.
Strategic Self-Reflection
Reflection isn’t about looking back—it’s about moving forward with intention. The best leaders take time to assess their patterns, question their defaults, and course-correct in real time. Strategic self-reflection turns experience into wisdom and keeps leaders from playing the same mind games on repeat.
All we are sayin’…
is call it whatever you want.
-
The song says:
Wherever you are
(wherever you are)
You are here
(you are here)This might sound like:
Making the Invisible, Visible
Change feels chaotic when you can’t see it. Leaders who make processes, decisions, and goals visible cut through ambiguity and create clarity. Whether it’s through journey maps, dashboards, or a simple whiteboard sketch, visualizing work helps teams understand the big picture and their role within it—so they’re not just along for the ride, but driving it.
Metaphors that Move People
People don’t resist change; they resist confusion. A well-chosen metaphor turns complexity into something graspable. Is this shift a rocket launch, requiring all systems to fire at once? Or a season change, unfolding in phases? Leaders who use metaphor and analogy don’t just explain change—they make it feel inevitable, natural, and necessary.
Storytelling as Strategy
Every transformation needs a narrative. Without one, change feels like orders from above instead of a shared mission. Effective leaders craft a story where their team is the protagonist, the challenge is real, and the path forward is clear. When people see themselves in the story, they don’t just follow along—they step up and own the journey.
Wayfinding for Decision-Making
A map is only useful if you know where you are. Leaders who use visual frameworks—decision trees, process flows, stakeholder maps—help teams navigate complexity without getting stuck in endless debate. Wayfinding isn’t about predicting the future; it’s about giving people the tools to move forward with confidence, no matter the terrain.
Sustaining Momentum Through Shared Visibility
The fastest way to kill momentum? Let progress become invisible. Whether through kanban boards, milestone trackers, or shared public commitments, successful leaders design ways for people to see progress in real time. When teams can track their own movement, engagement doesn’t just sustain—it accelerates.
All we are sayin’…
is call it whatever works for you.
…
We help you see who you need.
And we aren’t afraid to sing It Ain’t Me Babe in a meeting.
Our work is inspired by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, but maybe you’re not familiar with their work—or perhaps just not a fan.
We understand.
Maybe you need to hear something from ABBA, BTS or Nas.
Our working relationship—and the people involved—is no different.
We designed Only People to be a network of experts so you get the expert you need in any moment without losing any momentum.
…
We help you make the next step.
“I want to buy you something,
but I don’t have any money”
- The Drums
From JPMorgan to Zoo Labs, our working relationships spread across a very wide spectrum of “money”.
We make this happen by practicing Value(s) Based Pricing.
We negotiate working relationships leveraging all forms of capital, like social, network, material, and so on, not just “money”.
Then we find the format that works for you in this moment.
Formats
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A spark. A jolt. A moment that shifts the way you see, think, and do.
Workshops are where ideas collide with action—whether it’s a half-day deep dive, a full-day sprint, a keynote that lingers, or a one-on-one session that rewires your perspective.
It’s learning in its most immediate, electric form. Fast, focused, and built to leave an impact.
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Transformation takes time. A program is where workshops become a journey—a week, a month, a year of structured, intentional growth.
Led by expert facilitators, shaped by guest voices, and designed to build knowledge layer by layer.
More than an experience, it’s an ecosystem of learning that sticks, scales, and sustains.
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No templates. No constraints. Just what you need, made just for you. The studio is where we craft bespoke learning experiences, designing not just moments but momentum.
From custom-built engagements to media that moves—films, music, artifacts that don’t just teach, but embed lessons into memory.
Learning isn’t just about what happens in the room. It’s about what stays with you after.
What does the work produce?
“Well, a million heads are better than one,
so come on”
The portfolio of work below represents projects completed by the people of Only People through the various roles and relationships they’ve had within and without Only People.
This curation helps guide our conversations with you to better understand what you want (or don’t want) and then who we need to engage to make your dream a reality.
If These Walls Could Talk
Drive Your Music
The Starter Kit
What's Next is Now
Get HIP
Navigating Ambiguity
Nearpod Spotlight
Satellite Sessions
DMA Best Camp Ever
Stanford 2025
DMA Studios
University Innovation Fellows
How to Shoot for the Moon
School Retool
Creative Gym
The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus
Lennon Bus Live
What the World Needs Now
The Deeper Learning Puzzle Bus
i Harte Yu
Design Matters
Waiting on the Miracle
Always Something
Numbers of the Day
Got to Get You Into My Life
Tahüm
Blue Ocean Barns
How to Talk Pancakes
Stanford Law School
Garden of True Self
(Re)member Records
This Eight Feet
All You Need is Love
“Everything in the Universe is unfinished”
- Yoko Ono
Only People is becoming a world class, future proof & employee owned learning experience design studio serving our seventh generation by helping people remix how the(ir) world works today.*
*Only People is also a song by John Lennon featured on the album ‘Mind Games’ released in 1973. But it’s more than a song. It’s more than our name. It’s our melodic mantra.