Community Meeting Coalitions x PONT

The morning begins with writer Tommy Wieringa, who will share reflections on his essay Optimism Without Hope. He argues that even in times of climate crisis and uncertainty, we must continue to act — without expecting the situation to improve drastically. It is about an optimism that drives action: continuing to “do the right things,” without reward or the guarantee of a positive outcome. A mindset that designers, policymakers, and other social innovators can well adopt.

Moderator Marsha Simon will guide the morning, leading us through inspiring examples and real-world experiences of social innovators. On stage:

• Martijn Paulen, Director of Dutch Design Foundation, introduces the DDF programs De Publieke Ontwerppraktijk (PONT) and Coalitions.

• Danielle Arets, Professor of Applied Research, shares insights from her work on navigating the in-between: how to create room for change across different worlds and stakeholders.

• Nynke Tromp, Program Director of PONT, offers a look inside the program and shows how government is creating space for new ways of working. She will share key lessons learned and results achieved.

• Alliander & Fillip Studios demonstrate how they are co-developing a structure within Alliander in which a design-driven approach can flourish. They reflect on what worked, what went wrong, and the impact that was achieved.

• Tabo Goudswaard highlights how the Coalitions program of Dutch Design Foundation goes beyond simply making connections: it is a movement that provides a safe space for social innovators to meet, strengthen one another, and discover new possibilities together.

The morning will close with an intimate collective ritual: an exercise in which participants get to know each other in a personal way. Openness, vulnerability, and connection take center stage—precisely what societal innovation needs.