IN-PERSON Barcelona. Section A

Abstract

Co-Design-Projects implement local processes as co-designs of space and community, create interventions without or with references to the local authorities. This practice, generated from an architecture and design-approach, opens up ways of direct collaborations and local developments. As a ‘research through design’ (Jonas 2007) this practice as well has a big potential for a collaborative and transdisciplinary research of spatial needs and transformations. The approach of Co-Design-Projects is developed as a spatial designing project work with children and youth and in cooperation with local institutions. The approach is based on the Scandinavian Participatory Design (PD) (Ehn, Nilsson, Topgaard 2014) and refers to Participatory Action Research (PAR) (Kindon, Pain, Kesby 2010). The input discusses the challenges and potentials to act and design with children and youth in urban space ‘at eye level’ with research cases of real projects (Sitzskulptur Tenever, Bremen; RaumTeiler, Berlin). The input asks about working methods and settings, about possibilities to use Co-Design Projects in urban development processes and as a starting point for local co-productions. It questions the role of initiators, designers, participants as well as institutions and administrations. It names design, artistic and manual working methods and shows results. Opportunities to expand to other user groups and communities, and to embed research at the local level – with local stakeholders and participants as co-researchers – will be discussed. Jonas, W. (2007): Research through DESIGN through research – a cybernetic model of designing design foundations, in Kybernetes 36 (9). special issue on cybernetics and design. Kindon, S. L.; Pain, R.; Kesby, M. (2010): Participatory action research approaches and methods. Connecting people, participation and place. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. Ehn, P.; Nilsson, E. M.; Topgaard, R. (2014): Making Futures: The MIT Press.