WORKSHOP:
Design and Policy: The role of inclusive, participatory decision-making for affordable housing
with Anze Zadel
DATE AND LOCATION:
23. 5. 2019 / 09.30 -15.30 / Town Hall, Red Hall, Ljubljana
John A. Bruce is an educator, designer, researcher and strategist. He is Assistant Professor of Strategic Design at Parsons, where he leads the studio Design for Living and Dying in the Transdisciplinary Design MFA program, and becomes the Director of this MFA program, Fall 2019. John is the senior strategist for Forward Mapworks, a strategic consultancy. He also co-founded the Brooklyn-based design and architecture firm Super-Interesting! His clients include: Light Phone, Brooklyn Fashion + Design Accelerator, Red Hook Initiative, Novo Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, and Italia Innovation. He directed and produced, with Pawel Wojtasik, the feature documentary film End of Life, as well as many short films and installations. His work has been exhibited internationally, including: New York Film Festival, Cinéma du Réel, Doclisboa, RIDM, Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, Chicago Film Festival, PBS, Showtime, VICE, MTV, VH1, Julliard School, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Equitable Vitrines, and Park Place Gallery. He served as production manager and art director for a number of feature films, and platform producer for several transmedia projects addressing social issues. John served on Board of Trustees for the Robert Flaherty Film Seminar (2012-18), and as Board President (2016-18). He earned a BFA from the School of Visual Arts, and an MBA in Sustainable Systems from Pinchot (Presidio). He was a 2015/16 Fellow at the Graduate Institute for Design Ethnography and Social Thought at The New School.
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION:
In the growing trend of community participation in urban and policy processes on the local and regional level, a variety of new mechanisms and policies allow residents to participate in political decisions about the future of affordable housing conditions in their cities. One of the biggest challenges that emerge with these “participatory practices” is how to ensure that they truly contribute to strengthening citizen power. The questions that emerge are: What is the history of community participation in housing strategies in Ljubljana and the region? How are other cities/regions strengthening participation in alternative housing strategies? How might design inform processes of envisioning new participatory practices in policy-making?
Fundamental to the development of this participatory design-led workshop are key characteristics that include: a radical design approach to policy-making, transdisciplinarity by including multiple disciplines and stakeholders, and collaboration with intention to develop new ways of policy-making. Based on theory and praxis, the workshop will gather community groups, policymakers, urban practitioners, and city & state officials to explore the possibilities of democratizing the city.
There will be a day-long workshop on May 23rd followed by a 90 minute conference panel on May 24th.
REGISTRATION
This event has limited spaces and is based on invitations. However, there is a small number of participant spaces still available. So in case you are interested to participate, please email us to info@designbiotop.si. Send us your background education/field of work, position and contact details.
We will let you know asap if participation is still possible, thank you.