WDE and What if Lab: community of practice & learning
The festive kick-off of Dutch Design Foundation’s (DDF) new design year took place on 28 March. Designers and partners came together and shared examples of design thinking and doing in practice. Beforehand, World Design Embassies (WDE) and What if Lab (WiL) organised an in-depth session. The different networks got to know each other, shared insights and were updated on developments within WDE, the Embassies and What if Lab.
Each Embassy presented its current status and direction for the coming year. It was a valuable afternoon where Embassy networks could meet and cross-overs between Embassies was encouraged.
Then Anne-Marije Potter of Sweco, Europe’s largest architecture and engineering firm, launched their third ‘open call’ in collaboration with WiL! This time they are looking for designers who develop new sustainable concepts for scouring places where inner city and rural areas meet. Do you know someone for whom this is interesting, or are you interested yourself? More info on this open call at whatiflab.nl.
Shay Raviv, design researcher and creative director of the Embassy of Inclusive Society, launched her Visual Essay: Beyond Projects. For this, she investigated what barriers in social design ensure the continuity and further development of such projects is often limited. Her proposal? Five workable approaches to increase the sustainability of Social Design projects.
Head of Design Works (a.o. WDE and WiL), Marianne Aarnoudse closed the day: “It was great to see so many partners, designers and interested parties coming together. Thanks to all the creative leads and partners for their inspiring stories about the Embassies, What if Lab in collaboration with Sweco and the Beyond Projects research, about lessons learned from social design projects. All of them valuable insights that nicely represent the ‘community of practice & learning’ we are developing with World Design Embassies and What if Lab.”