The value of research by design

Nieuws - 11 april 2019 - Communication BK

As part of the upcoming book publication ‘The city of the future’, BK researchers Tom Daamen and Hedwig van der Linden reflected on the value of research by design for urban area development. This type of design thinking can create added value for clients on different levels of the design brief.

For many companies, mobilising research and creative competencies is the only way to design new products and services. Within spatial planning, especially within urban area development, the necessity to innovative is widely experienced. There is a demand for densification of cities, combined with challenges such as healthy urbanisation, climate adaptation, and transitions in energy use and mobility. This requires the design of integral processes and (spatial) solutions. Research by design plays a crucial role in this. 

Daamen and Van der Linden explored the question why clients would organise a design study. They combined literature research with expert interviews, and participated within several elements of the study The City of the Future to observe discussions and results. Their conclusion: research by design offers the opportunity to quickly explore different integral design solutions. This helps clients to find common goals, to gain a more complete view of the design brief, and a perspective on possible futures. Clients and other partners are able to gain insight in the available (hidden) options and become better able to apply multidisciplinary expertise. 

The book publication ‘The city of the future’ concludes a study by the BNA of the same name. Over the course of 2018, ten design teams, municipalities, and a network of experts worked on perspectives and integral design possibilities for five test locations of 1 by 1 km in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, and Eindhoven. The book will be presented in Het Nieuwe Instituut in Rotterdam on 18 April 2019, 16:00. To register for this event and for more information, click here (Dutch only).

On the same day, at 19:00, the book 'Building and Dwelling: Ethics for the City' by Richard Sennett will be presented during the Great Books session by Master City Developer. This master programme is a joint programme between Erasmus University Rotterdam, Delft University of Technology, and City Development Rotterdam [Stadsontwikkeling Rotterdam]. To join, please register here (Dutch only).