GDDs 2026: The Donut Mobile (DEFI)

Global Doughnut Days 2026: The Day We Took the Doughnut to the Street

Doughnut Economics Finland Initiative (DEFI) | A three-day event · Espoo, Finland

Global Doughnut Days 2026 stretched over three days, and for DEFI one of the most memorable moments came on Friday, when the Donut Mobile rolled out.

The plan was simple. Instead of discussing the Doughnut among ourselves, we would set up a stall in Espoo and ask the people walking by what they actually think. The circular Doughnut chart stood at the centre of our stall, and a pile of sticky notes waited beside it.

Then the weather showed up. We hadn't planned much for it amidst other commitments, and the weather kept changing its mind throughout the day. Looking back, it may have been the best thing that happened to us. People slowed down, looked at our stall, and asked the question we hoped they would: "What are you doing here in this weather?" Suddenly, we didn't have to find a clever opening line. The weather did the work for us, and the conversation could begin.

From there, things took off. We showed passers-by the circular chart and asked how different parts of today's economy affect them. Some paused for a moment, some stayed for a long chat, and each one wrote an opinion on a sticky note and stuck it onto the Doughnut. Each note represented a small piece of how people in Espoo see the economy around them.

It wasn't only about the passers-by. Standing together in unpredictable weather turned out to be a bonding moment for us recent DEFI members. We shared the work, the laughs and the cold, and by the end of the day we felt like a team rather than a group of people who had signed up for the same event.

When the stall closed, we were left with something valuable: a huge sheet with qualitative data and observational notes. Opinions, concerns and ideas from real people, waiting to be read, grouped and understood. What do people feel most affected by? Where do they agree, and where do they clash? That is the next chapter of the story, and we can't wait to dig in.

What we learned
The weather will always have its say, so next time we will bring covers and waterproof materials. One must prepare for it lest risking the health of others. 
Photograph the board often, so no note is lost :)
An unplanned moment can become the best ice-breaker.


What comes next
We will transcribe the notes, tag them by Doughnut dimension and theme, look for patterns, and share what we find with the people who took the time to stop and contribute.