Design as a holistic approach to social issues
Stby is actively engaged in the Dutch national programme PONT (Public Design Practice) by conducting research and creating and sharing knowledge on how design addresses challenges and fosters collaboration between government and designers. In the context of PONT, we can create new knowledge about design in and with government, with all involved (experience) experts.
Learning from current practices is crucial to strengthening the collaboration between designers and the government. Designing in the public domain can be challenging due to the differing principles of public organisations and designers. Often, design is treated as a separate step rather than being integrated into a holistic approach.
PONT was established for the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science, in partnership with the Dutch Design Foundation. From 2024 to 2026, PONT will implement a program aimed at enhancing the role of design in addressing societal challenges.
Increase the impact of design practices with Impact Amplifiers
In various regions of the Netherlands, design approaches are already in use to tackle social issues. To be able to learn from design practices in government context, PONT works with Impact Versterkers (Impact Amplifiers): an experienced professional from the design or government world who stimulates learning within the practice.
Our director Bas Raijmakers is an Impact Versterker for PONT, and has recently taken up a second round of learning with and giving support to a design practice working on a challenge from national government. In this role Bas draws broader insights and, when needed, adjusts collaborations while encouraging reflection. This approach makes the value of design more evident, helps advance the practice, and facilitates understanding of what it takes to collaborate for optimal results.
Sharing knowledge in a transferable and actionable way
Stby is dedicated to sharing knowledge in a way that is both transferable and actionable. In addition to learning from specific projects within PONT, Stby brings over 20 years of experience to develop knowledge products that benefit the broader field of design practice.
Designers are increasingly collaborating with public professionals to tackle complex social challenges. A strong start is crucial for the success of these collaborations, but how can the right conditions be created at the outset?
To help answer this question Bas collaborated on an essay where a group of designers shared actionable insights on how to establish the best starting position for adopting a design approach in the context of government. This essay (available in Dutch) is intended for policymakers, program managers, and other public professionals seeking to work with designers, as well as for designers engaged in social issues within governmental settings. More to come!