A Living Design Policy Framework

Designing in Uncertain Times – Seizing Opportunities, Shaping Change.

The landscape design navigates, has changed dramatically over the last years. Currently, the political, technological and environmental landscape in which design plays a pivotal role has become somewhat unpredictable. Entire agreements rise and fall between lunch breaks, bureaucratic processes outlive their creators, and long-time perceived fundamental values are threatened. And as with every changing environment, this brings opportunities that we as designers must take on.

MADres Strives to Develop a Living Design Policy Framework—an Adaptive Model to Embed Design in National and EU-Level Policies.

Fostering prosperity and sustainable growth in Europe through and with the power of Design and its methodologies is the goal of the living Design policy framework idea.

Rather than serving as a static rulebook, it is envisioned as an agile, living design policy system—one capable of adapting to different needs and contexts.

Unlocking Design’s full Potential.

For design to act as a true enabler of transformation, a unified and actionable European Design Strategy Framework is essential. Since the early 90s, research has been conducted into the relation of Design, Innovation and governmental structures. The term ‘Design Ecosystem’ was coined in 2014 by Anna Whicher as an essential part of design policies. In 2016, a design policy approach was co-funded by the European Union and developed by the Danish Design Centre in collaboration with Nesta and Politecnico di Milano. This ‘Design for Europe’ approach positioned Design as an enabler and innovator; it was a framework to empower governments to harness design’s value as an innovative power. Yet, in the current volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) environment, long-standing approaches are challenged.
To think and build a Living Design Policy Framework, MADres resarches into existing European Design Policies, creates a Blueprint out of the New European Bauhaus development process and draws insights from policy-making processes outside the design industry and methodologies. In a triangulation of the insights, we will ideate a Living Design Policy framework.

We wouldn’t be designers if we didn’t iterate on our concepts and ideas. For a reality check, the developed framework will be tested by four national policy labs to create insights and to iterate on the knowledge. This is an opportunity for BEDA Members to join the development. The call for Participation will be published soon.

Not a member of BEDA yet, but interested in the work we are doing?

Design as a Strategic Lever for Sustainable, Inclusive, and Digital Transformation.

Design plays a vital economic and societal role in every European country. It’s a high-profile sector of employment and a proven driver of gross added value. And yet, the growth outlook across many EU economies remains below the level needed to sustain societal wellbeing—pressured further by the impacts of climate change and shifting demographics. To meet the challenge of Europe’s triple transition—towards a sustainable, socially just, and digitally empowered economy—we need to evolve the policy conditions that shape design’s role.