Design meets policy: Introducing a design orientation to improve policymaking practices at the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) headquarters.

Abstract

In light of the constantly evolving and 'wicked' nature of today's problems, the field of policymaking ranks among the most volatile, as policies are expected to mitigate any disruptions and establish structures that foster innovation. In contrast, the paradigms designed to create these policies are based on ideas of predictability and permanence.

Frameworks from various fields of design, on the other hand, are modeled to thrive in uncertainty.As a result, this thesis attempts to investigate the juxtaposition of practices in the fields of design and policy in order to identify the most essential design theories to empower contemporary policymaking.

This attempt takes place in the context of the headquarters of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), an institution whose policymaking capacity influences a large innovation community across all of Europe. Following consultation with relevant officers and internal policy experts, a general policy process within the EIT is outlined. Opportunities for improvement in this process are identified and adopted as the foundation for further research.

A design-driven policy approach is introduced as a result of a qualitative study of the learned experiences of five design experts working in the realm of policy. A narrative is also provided, outlining the why, what, where, and how of using the approach.Three alternative policy scenarios are proposed to provide the EIT with a more contextual understanding of this approach and to serve as a foundation for action within the institution.

These scenarios are centered around the most relevant design discourses revealed in the research.They promote bottom-up participatory policy formulation, ecosystem analysis and knowledge cross-pollination, and speculation concerning future disruptions.