First insights of the Exploration Knowledge infrastructure power of design

Dutch Design Foundation and CLICKNL are conducting an exploraty study this year into how knowledge about the use of the power of desgin can be better developed, connected and utilised for societal challenges. The exploration is being carried out in coordination with the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW). The first insights and patterns are now beginning to emerge.

Over the past few weeks, we have interviewed more than twenty people from different parts of the field: from research and knowledge institutions and the creative industries to organisations and professionals involved in societal challenges. In these conversations, we explored what the current knowledge infrastructure looks like, how knowledge is developed, shared and applied, and where gaps and needs lie.

The following initial insights and patterns have emerged from these conversations:

• The exploratory study is widely recognised as relevant and urgent. Almost all interviewees expressed a need to make existing knowledge about the power of design more accessible, better connected and more effectively utilised.

• A great deal of knowledge already exists, but access to developed methods, applications and experiences is fragmented. This is related both to the diversity within the design sector and to the wide variety of societal challenges and users.

• Much knowledge development and exchange takes place within temporary programmes, projects and informal networks. When these come to an end, part of the infrastructure and visibility that has been built up often disappears as well.

• As a result, there is limited structural further development and embedding of methods and knowledge. Insights into the application and impact of certain methods are also not yet being systematically built up and shared.

• The challenge therefore appears to lie not only in developing more knowledge, but also in connecting, making accessible, further developing and sustainably utilising what already exists.

→ Read the full (Dutch) analysis of these initial insights here.

In the coming period, we will further deepen the exploratory study. During three roundtable discussions with more than twenty professionals from a range of organisations, the central question will be what a programmatic approach could look like. Particular attention will be paid to what already exists and where more structural connections or programming could add value.

We will bring together the findings from the interviews, inventory, analysis and roundtable discussions in a final document. The exploratory study is expected to be completed around mid-November.

For any questions, please contact us at verkenning@clicknl.nl.