The Square at DDW | Is your question a design question?

Governments and organisations are increasingly collaborating with designers to address complex societal challenges. But how do you know whether your challenge is actually a design question? And what does it mean to take a design-led approach?

In this workshop, we will explore together:
• When does a design-led approach suit your challenge?
• What characteristics make a challenge a design question?
• How can design help tackle problems without clear-cut solutions?

Through practical examples, we’ll show how designers and policymakers collaborate on a wide range of themes. We’ll discuss which types of questions are suitable for a design approach and how this approach differs from other ways of working.

During the session, you’ll take an active role: in small groups, you’ll explore and reframe your own challenge as a design question. This will give you insight into how design can enrich your own work. You’ll leave the session with a clearly defined design question that you can take forward in your practice.

The Public Design Practice (PONT) strengthens collaboration between designers and civil servants, enabling them to work together more effectively on complex societal challenges. PONT is a programme by Dutch Design Foundation and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. PONT is organising this workshop in collaboration with studio INK Social Design.