Abstract
Building communities to develop and consolidate the identity of designers is a crucial aspect of current design research and practice. Design communities serve as catalysts for the co-construction of knowledge, values, relationships, and projects with the goal of promoting sustainable and inclusive professional growth in society. In this context, this paper focuses on a significant case study: the “DZain Community” (DZC) in Bologna, Italy. The DZC is a dynamic network composed of students, alumni, researchers and professionals related to the design context in the Emilia-Romagna Region. This community was created with the intent to address the specific needs of designers and contribute to the co-construction of identity in the territory and then globally. In the paper, we will examine in detail the operating model of the DZC and its initiatives aimed at promoting sustainability, inclusion and responsibility in design, starting with the experience of co-constructing university spaces where the community came to life during workshop days for the UNIBO Decennial of Design celebrations. The DZC represents a tangible example of how the co-construction of hybrid spaces, relationships, and proximate actions within a design community can contribute significantly to the formation and affirmation of designers’ professional identities. Our analysis of the Bologna case study offers a concrete perspective on community co-design strategies in the design context, underscoring the importance of a responsible and inclusive approach to address current challenges in the field.
Presenters
Ludovica RosatoPostdoctoral Researcher, Department of Architecture, University of Bologna, Italy Riccardo Mercuri
Research Fellow, Department of Architecture, Università di Bologna, Italy Simona Colitti
PhD Student, Department of Architecture, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Community, Identity, Proximity, Co-design, Responsible design
