2023 Retrospective: Embassy of Mobility

“Mobility is a means, not the end. We must mainly focus on what livable cities and rural areas will look like,” said Joost van der Made, creative lead of the Embassy. 

You can read the entire interview with Joost here. 

The Embassy programme during DDW23 was packed and showed many striking examples of experiments, practical solutions, vistas and nearby possibilities. DDW itself was also an ideal moment for an experiment measuring how visitors travel between the different locations: on foot, by bicycle, by public transport or with a Renault Design Ride? By showing the route and travel time, visitors were helped to make well-considered choices during this living lab during DDW23.

Changes

The city of Eindhoven will see a lot of changes in the field of mobility in the coming years, as was shown during the programme section Designing for experience – Knoop XL & HOV-Lijn. But major shifts are also taking place on a larger scale. This was discussed during Romance of the Journey by Mecanoo. This idea stems from a seamless travel experience, at different scales and to different places in the city. Mobility is a daily part of modern society, just like living, working and recreation. Mobility design should therefore offer people a (sensory) experience that suits their personal needs and activities. At the same time, mobility infrastructure has major consequences on a city scale.

The bicycle

There was of course plenty of room for bicycles during DDW23. Micromobility, and especially cycling, is growing rapidly due to soaring fuel prices and the trend towards healthier lifestyles. The development of urban cycling infrastructure cannot grow at the same pace, because it is difficult to install cycling facilities at every busy location. This especially applies to cities where the bicycle as a means of daily transport does not have a long tradition. Vélo is a good example of a solution for these types of cities that was given space at the Embassy of Mobility exhibition.

Solutions in the city

Speaking of the city: construction is increasingly taking place in areas where people already live. This means that public space is sometimes occupied by construction sites for a long time, which is not always pleasant for residents. To improve this situation, Bits of Space uses Hek, Yes! of surplus building materials and fences, furniture and playground equipment on wheels. These objects mark space for the neighbourhood. You can play with them or have a picnic. Because they have wheels, they never get in the way and are always available. In this WDE Spotlight you can read more about Bits of Space. 

How to create liveable cities together, that is what the Embassy of Mobility discussed during DDW. With creative makers, such as designers and mobility professionals, but especially with city residents, travellers and companies. In this Embassy Tour, Joost van der Made shows what was presented in the Embassy of Mobility in DONNA during DDW23. 

Events 2023

Mobility developments were actually tangible at various events during DDW23. For example, by playing the serious game Mobipolis you could learn how to work together towards a sustainable and liveable city. The game, which was developed by CROW and UUM, focuses on the relationship between urban densification and accessibility. Mobipolis is an instrument to discuss with different parties and discover what collaboration means in the field of mobility and sustainable urban development.

During the workshop ‘Hybrid working seeks new space’, participants discussed forms of hybrid working and the consequences these. Many employers want to change, but have not yet taken the step to actually do so. Joining forces and initiatives seems to be difficult for the moment, with the wheel sometimes being invented in several places at once but real change not yet rolling in. How can this come together, and how can design help?

Mobility as a means

Answers to these types of questions are in line with what Joost van der Made said earlier in an interview: “For me, the power of making is that you are able to go back to the core of the real problem and the values ​​that you attach to possible solutions. From there, you can establish frameworks in your design brief and apply a vision. Then the question is what kind of policy you need: where do you need a carrot and where do you need a stick? What’s important to bear in mind is that mobility and mobility options aren’t the issue. They’re just the means. We need to take an integrated look at how we can make cities and outlying areas liveable.

Would you like to contribute to the Embassy of Mobility or find out more about the developments? Sign up for the newsletter, visit the Embassy page or contact us.