5x innovative projects from co-creation between civil servants and designers

Curiously, young people in vocational education – unlike their peers in academic education – are rarely encouraged to engage with issues concerning their own health. And that’s a missed opportunity: people with only basic or vocational education live on average four years less than those with an academic background. So, let’s turn the question around: what if these practically educated young people were to contribute their thoughts on health issues that affect them?

The programme ‘Brabant Gaat Beter’ takes these young people, their ideas, and their experiences seriously. Within this programme, which is open to all schools in Brabant, students work independently during citizenship classes to address various health issues. They then present their ideas to parties such as municipalities, the provincial government, and health and welfare organisations. Together, they explore how to implement these ideas.

In ‘What if Lab: Youth Development’, Greenberry and Amsterdam’s Action Centre for Safety and Care developed a method to prevent knife-related incidents among young people and gain more insight into their online worlds. After six months of research and co-creation with experts by experience, youth workers, street coaches, police, and Youth & Safety project leaders, they developed ‘Lookback’ – a method where participants compile a timeline with information from those involved before an incident occurred.

By analysing patterns, ‘red flags’ can be identified, providing insights on how to prevent future incidents. In collaboration with Amsterdam’s Action Centre for Safety and Care and various network partners, Greenberry has analysed four real-world cases. The method proved effective in gathering insights and identifying missed signals. ‘Lookback’ has shown great value, resulting in policy adjustments at one school, and the Action Centre for Safety and Care sees opportunities to present the results at the policy-making level for further development.

Can a bus stop serve a smarter function? How can we optimise the waiting experience? The Brainport Region of Eindhoven is one of Europe’s fastest-growing high-tech regions. This offers many opportunities, but also poses challenges in terms of accessibility, mobility, and sustainability. To keep the region attractive and liveable, the Municipality of Eindhoven needs new, smart solutions for how people move around. The HOV project aims to make bus transport more appealing, comfortable, and efficient.

Jamil Badloe has responded to this need with ‘Haven Hub’. He wants to give travellers a sense of control over their waiting time. Jamil designed the hub based on the principles of ‘accelerate’, ‘condense’, and ‘enliven’. By cleverly applying perspective, the hub provides shelter and a sense of security, yet remains open and accessible. Attractively designed travel information contributes to the visual appearance and aims to create a relaxed atmosphere. The waiting area thus becomes a functional hub with an appealing experience, integrated into city planning and the Municipality of Eindhoven.

Every major government organisation employs legal practitioners. Lawyers at Rijkswaterstaat explored how they can contribute to a work culture of well being and security. When it comes to social security in organisations, we often use legal language. Perpetrator. Victim. Bystander. But in reality, social security most of the time is about seeing and supporting someone in a vulnerable position, without there ever being a legal dispute.

In collaboration with lawyers from Rijkswaterstaat, Myrthe Veeneman developed a new perspective: ‘Advocaat in Kwetsbaarheid’ (Vulnerability advocate). Because if you dare to show up with vulnerability in a conversation, you open up that possibility for others as well. Not everyone is an advocate in legal terms, but we could all be a Vulnerability advocate. What about you? Try on the gown and experience how it feels.

Curious to learn more about collaborations between designers and Rijkswaterstaat? Visit the Embassy of Safety and get to know ‘Do you dare?!’: the overarching project showcasing ‘Advocaat in Kwetsbaarheid’, ‘Rijksmakerstaat’ and ‘Rituelenclub’.

Social designer Fides Lapidaire, commissioned by PONT (THE PUBLIC DESIGN PRACTICE), explored how designers and civil servants collaborate. She spoke with involved professionals who find common ground in their shared goals, but who sometimes get lost in each other’s worlds and working methods. She has captured her findings in the comic series ‘ONT & AMBT SLAAN DE HANDEN INEEN’ (ONT & AMBT Join Forces).

PONT is a multi-year collaboration between Dutch Design Foundation, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, and CLICKNL. Using a design-driven approach, the programme investigates complex societal challenges such as housing shortages and healthcare deficits. These are problems that cannot be solved by one party or with a linear action plan, causing many dossiers to stagnate. A design-driven approach can offer a breath of fresh air! Curious about how PONT develops knowledge, culture, and infrastructure through a design approach? Learn more through ONT & AMBT in ‘Designing Society’.

Visit ‘Designing Society’ at DDW24

‘Designing Society’ brings together projects and programmes from World Design Embassies, What if Lab, PONT, and Maakruimte MooiNL under one roof. The exhibition invites you to explore new perspectives on possible futures. How can we harness the power of design to address the complex transitions our world faces today?

Visit ‘Designing Society’ during DDW24 from 19 to 27 October. The exhibition at Ketelhuisplein is free and open to everyone.