A good public design practice starts with skilled professionals. In the Netherlands, the number of studycourses focusing on designing for, in, and with society is increasing. Within these studies, the designers of the future are being trained. But how is the development of public design practices addressed in these studies? How is knowledge about the public sector and government taught? And about collaboration with public partners? What skills and attitudes are needed to operate effectively in governance contexts? And how can we collaborate and learn from each other to make a greater impact on societal challenges?
About PONT: A learning network for public design practices
The Public Design Practice (PONT) aims to develop the knowledge, organizational culture, and infrastructure needed to effectively apply a design approach within public organizations. PONT does this in collaboration with a large network of designers, civil servants, policymakers, public professionals, and researchers. The goal? To collectively address societal challenges by experimenting with a design approach and exchanging knowledge and experiences. These challenges are also actively addressed within educational programs, though this is often still done within the boundaries of the individual program or institution.
PONT does not focus specifically on education, but we certainly see value in exchanging knowledge with and between programs that are training the next generation of designers. After all, the seeds for the future are planted there. PONT sees opportunities to build a broader network where we can learn and work together to strengthen our position and create more impact now and in the future.
About the PONT Education Alliance: a step towards collaboration
To realise this network, PONT initiates the PONT Education Alliance: an informal collaboration between Dutch educational courses and programmes that teach design for societal issues. During the Programme – until the end of 2026 – educational institutes can actively take part and share experiences.
To tackle the societal issues we face today and tomorrow, the need for professionals who can relate the complexety of these issues, and collaborate with public organisations to work on ways forward. Within this network, PONT shares its developed knowledge, tools and insights, to test their applicability to and use for related educational programs. Within the alliance, programs can exchange knowledge about cases, methods and tool to better utilise design for complex societal issues. Wat can we learn from one another? What is running smoothly and where is improvement needed?
Collectively building a stronger narrative
One goal of the Education Alliance is also to strengthen the narrative about the value of design and design approaches for complex societal issues. This may mean there is a need for a common language and framework of concepts – or it may be a conscious choice to maintain or emphasize (certain) differences. A stronger and clearer narrative about design within the public sector creates space for diversity and potential collaboration between programs. Additionally, it helps to collectively profile better and create room for design work within the public sector.