DesignLab UTwente

Counting down to 2024! A year in which we will celebrate DesignLab's 10 year anniversary. First, let's look back on 2023, a year of co-creation and a lot of nice projects and events in . See you in 2024! utwente.nl/designlab/countdown-to-2024

Hot off the (digital) press: 'Celebrate co-speculation!'
👉 ut.onl/celebrate-co-speculation
- - -
DesignLab has been developing the Responsible Futuring approach for a couple of years now. We would like to thank everyone inside and outside University of Twente for their contribution: from research to moderation, from tool development to participation.

Together we can inspire others to become future change makers too, and that is why we have compiled experiences for this publication!

Read about the basics of Responsible Futuring and showcases of a selection of engagements. Get some insights and perspectives from the Responsible Futuring crew, alumni students from the Transdisciplinary Master-Insert and participants. Lastly, some fun facts. Enjoy!
- - -

Would you like to explore what Responsible Futuring could mean for your organisation? Please visit the website and reach out to the crew: utwente.nl/responsible-futuring

Cristina Zaga Julieta Matos Castaño Maartje Huinink Miriam Iliohan Rayhan Bayuaji Jamila Blokzijl Carithea Richards Wiro Kuipers Maya van den berg Henrietta Lukács Janine Swaak
Alexandru Amariei Marike Boertien

🍳 What's cooking at DesignLab?

The week at DesignLab was kicked off with the strategy day of UTs higher management. They joined presentations, workshops, serious games to discuss 'Future Proof education'.

A great opportunity to experience 'The Cookery', which contains challenges from researchers and students from all faculties. Last month, at Dutch Design Week, almost a thousand people chose their ingredients (personal values) and kitchen appliance (how to tackle the challenge) and had fruitful conversations with fellow participants at the kitchen table.

Concept developed by DreamTeam project coordinator Alexandru Amariei (in the centre of the picture) and researchers Cristina Zaga and Julieta Matos Castaño. Built and designed by the DreamTeam.

You can experience 'The Cookery' at DesignLab, too! Ask our DreamTeamers at the desk.

More DDW throwbacks soon!

University of Twente Dutch Design Week Cristina Zaga Julieta Matos Castaño Machteld roos

Dutch Design Week 2023 is about to start! What is University of Twente bringing this year? Picture this:

- - -
🍝 Experience: 'Design For Transition - What's On Your Menu?' | Ketelhuisplein

An interactive exhibition that depicts the state of transition of design practices and society, taking people through different stages of reflection.
- - -
🎙️ Design Research & Innovation Festival (DRIVE) | De Effenaar and online

Talk and workshop by Jodi Sturge about Systems & Societal Innovation and Julieta Matos Castaño about Future Living Systems.
- - -
🍃 Ever-changing Relationships by 4TU.Design United | Klokgebouw, Microlab and online

Exhibitions and afternoon programmes by the four Dutch technical universities. Topics: Politics of Design, Climate Futures Now!, More than Human, Disentangling AI Design & Society and Making Matters.
- - -
🍄 Mycelium - A network for Individuals to flourish together: A mobile installation portrays the stakeholders in society and how they are always (invisibly) connected.
- - -
More info 👉 utwente.nl/ddw.

📸 2: Jamila Blokzijl
📸 3: Cristina Ionas
📸 4: Jorge Davos



TU Delft
TU Eindhoven
Wageningen University & Research

Our DreamTeamer Riki would love to tell you all the stories that were created at and with DesignLab. But why not experience these yourself?

When you visit ‘Lounge’, you will see the various projects that we (and you!) have conducted as part of the innovative ecosystem.

Stop by, have a look and write down your complex answers to easy questions (or easy answers to complex questions). Share your perspectives on projects that you hadn’t heard of yet, with other visitors.

See you around!

𝗔 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿: 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱!

If you spent your time off in Europe this summer, you might have experienced that issues around climate change are no longer an exception. Mother Nature can be both generous and unforgiving. Were you and your fellow vacationers able to receive online updates on the latest developments? Did you have access to the right resources to stay safe and healthy, and travel back home together?

Luckily, most of us has had a great vacation and made new memories. You and future generations deserve this in the future as well, so let’s collaborate!

𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗟𝗮𝗯 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴
* Watch the video below and let Dreamteam moderator Henrietta Lukacs take you with her in our Responsible Futuring Approach. Also credits to the YouTube DreamTeam for making this possible!

* Read the essay written by researchers at (DesignLab) University of Twente. The paper elaborates on the importance of transdisciplinary and futures-oriented competences to address societal challenges, and the role that design research innovation can play to foster them: utwente.nl/en/designlab/responsible-futuring/publications/

* Get ready for upcoming sessions, research projects and experiences that will take place in and with DesignLab! Organised by our researchers and DreamTeam students. Keep an eye on our website utwente.nl/designlab

An introduction to Responsible Futuring In this video, DesignLab DreamTeam moderator Henrietta Lukaçs introduces you to the essentials of the Responsible Futuring approach.Full theoretical backgrou...

Last Friday, the exhibitions of the students following the course on ‘Socio-Technical Futures’ at the UT took place. During this course, organized by Corelia Baibarac-Duignan, students explored potential socio-technical futures originating from addressing water and waste related challenges on campus. During this exhibition, 16 groups expressed how different sustainability futures could look like on campus, depending on our interventions in the present.
 
Corelia Baibarac-Duignan and DesignLab’s researcher Julieta Matos-Castaño have gained insights during the methods used in this course that will help them to further develop a DIY scenario-making tool, part of their DesignLan seed-fund project. During last months, the BMS Lab has supported Corelia and Julieta in developing a back-end for the tool, and now, they will be working on the front-end, with the collaboration of Creative Coding Utrecht.

Take look at the video to find more: https://vimeo.com/814133153?share=copy

Future Stories, made by you!
Listen to or read the stories here 👉 ut.onl/future-stories

- - -

Over 400 people have received and played the storytelling card game 'Connecting Worlds For a Better Future', which is a follow-up of the eponymous narrative about UT, presented at the Dutch Design Week 2022.

From DDW visitors to advisers of Gemeente Enschede, from current students and researchers to the future generation of academics: everyone can tell a story, reflect on their role in society and think about who they would need to realise their desired future.

A selection of stories is available in our 'User Stories' repository, a booklet and in the form of audio. The illustrations that tell the stories visually can also be experienced live at DesignLab, as part of the DesignLab museum.

You can also play the game. Visit the Responsible Futuring toolbox 👉 utwente.nl/responsible-futuring

- - -

Illustrations: Kim Hovestad
Narration: Dominique Jansen

Real data made tangible and enchanting | Presentations Creative Technology students in DesignLab

- - -

Yesterday, over a hundred second year students Creative Technology presented their project ’Hybrid Worlds’ in DesignLab. In this project, students build an installation that showcases the interplay between data in the physical world and the digital world. Stories about consumer behaviour in different countries and fashion waste, the effects of CO2 emissions in our oceans, and the true cost of drug production and consumption: This is just a selection of showcases that encourages the audience to discuss, understand and anticipate the impacts of our actions in society.

- - -

Meanwhile, first year students organised a modern art exhibition that was also presented at DesignLab, on the same day. Part of their project ‘Art && Impact’

- - -

The results raise the question: How to deal with these challenges, together? Let’s co-shape these futures, also in education! Good job, students!

Read the news and see more pictures
👉 ut.onl/hybrid-worlds-at-dl



📸 Photo credits: Cristina Ionas

☀️ Science & Tech enthusiasts explored real life challenges at DesignLab | Looking back on a sunny Open House at University of Twente

- - -

UT opened their doors for anyone interested in the day-to-day business on campus. Over 2500 people from all ages found their way in different buildings, where they got offered exciting activities to discover science and technology.

DesignLab aimed to create a fun and insightful Responsible Futuring experience, where imagination, collaborating and reflecting on their values were key part of understanding their potential impact for positive change.

Relive the experience (pictures included):

Science & Tech enthusiasts explored real life challenges University of Twente opened their doors for anyone interested in the day-to-day business on campus. On this sunny day in June, over 2500 people from all ages found their way in different buildings, where they got offered exciting activities to discover science and technology. DesignLab aimed to cre....

🎥 '𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐚 𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝?' 𝐨𝐧 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐕 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 University of Twente

Tonight at (SBS6), DesignLab researcher Karolina la Fors will talk about AI systems and our young generation. What are their thoughts on it? In collaboration with KidsRights

Tune in at 17:45 or 23:00!

- - -

Part of 'Explore future you and society'.
3 June, during the Open House, this AI4Youth project will be one of the highlights of DesignLabs programme. Come and talk with us about Artificial Intelligence at school, in the city or at home.