Calling up to vote through design

The average turnout during the last municipal elections was 43%, and in some neighborhoods it was as low as 23%. That’s why the municipality came up with the idea to place artworks in all eight districts, each symbolizing a seat in the council. Our students from the Industrial Design Engineering program brought this idea to life, and together with residents and several furniture makers from The Hague, they built a chair that reflects the identity of each district. 

The teams worked independently from one another. “Each chair has a different design, because every district has different needs,” explains student Shou Devilee. “I worked on Escamp, for example, and people there have a different perspective compared to residents of, say, Leidschenveen-Ypenburg.” 

 ‘We are here’ 

To gain a proper understanding of what was going on in the neighborhoods, the students visited community centers and schools and interviewed residents on the street. Student Mihail Yakimov says: “We needed to get a sense of what people really wanted and how they wanted to be represented. Only then could we create chairs that truly fit the neighborhood.” 

In Escamp, there was a strong feeling that the municipality wasn’t listening to residents, which led to a design that Shou describes as resembling a love letter. “With this chair, residents are saying that they are present, that they also want a beautiful environment, and that they want to work together. That’s why the hands coming together are central to our design.” 

Immediate impact 

Aside from the valuable experience the students gained, they also noticed another important aspect during this project. Shou explains: “The motto of our school is ‘Let’s change. You. Us. The world.’ and projects like this embody that perfectly. At school we follow classes, but those don’t immediately impact the world outside the classroom. By working on projects like this with the municipality and the residents, you can create real impact right away.” 

Municipal elections  

Will you also choose proper representation? Cast your vote during the municipal elections on March 18. You can also vote here at THUAS at the “Own Your Stembureau” in the Innovation Playground.