Participation through design at the IDE Expo

That was the challenge our students tackled during the IDE (Industrial Design Engineering) Expo on Thursday, December 11. “It was wonderful to see that residents wanted to help us and truly wish to see change in their neighborhood”, said one enthusiastic student.  

In collaboration with the Municipality of The Hague, students were tasked with designing a chair installation that would encourage residents to vote in the municipal elections. Each group represented a different neighborhood.  

Co-creation  

For the Segbroek district, one group of students focused on nature. During co-creation sessions with local residents, a unique concept emerged: a chair shaped like a bouquet. On the petals, information about the elections was displayed. A beautiful example of how design can strengthen democratic participation. “I feel truly connected to the client’s brand because it’s so colorful”, one student proudly shared. “It’s very rewarding to build such a chair. I would love to see our chair actually launched on the market in the future.”

Innovation  

Other students developed a Gaming Arcade installation for the Innovation Playground to showcase student-made games. “It was a challenge to make something so large transportable and to get all the electronics working”, explained one of the creators. There was also collaboration with designer Isabel Quiroga to build an ergonomic, configurable seating concept with an integrated table, lamp, and charging station.  

During the Expo, it became clear once again: at IDE it’s not just about pretty pictures, but about tangible solutions, interdisciplinary collaboration, and making an impact on the environment.