Explore visionary perspectives on the future of urban living, addressing emerging trends and challenges to create sustainable, inclusive and resilient futures for cities.

Recent Keynotes:

• “Visibility and Cooperation in Data-based Urban Research”

Keynote at Lucerne University of Applied Science and Arts, 2023. Lecture Series 'Towards the Inclusive City – Agency, Ethics, and Spatial Practice'

In this keynote, we explore the in/visibilities in urban planning and how we can use data visualization to bring attention to marginalized communities and overlooked urban issues. By adopting explorative methods and leveraging alternative data sources, we aim to reveal hidden social dynamics and work toward more inclusive, equitable approaches to city planning.

• “Save your City and Design the Future”

An interactive Workshop Format at South by Southwest (SXSW) Austin, 2023.  

Emerging tech has the potential to radically change the urban experience but it is important to put these powerful tools in the hands of the people. As communities struggle with humanitarian issues (homelessness, refugee resettlement, climate-related crises, equitable access to city services) civic leaders are searching for ways to better engage residents.

 Researchers are developing methods to bring cityscapes to life through interactive touch tables infused with geo-specific city data sets and augmented with ethically-designed AI.

In this interactive workshop at the SXSW we encouraged people to play, transforming their concern and complaints into creative solutions.

With a shared background in urban labs and multi-stakeholder collaboration, we know how to design tailored interventions that kickstart transformation processes. Using a broad set of methods, including workshops, artistic practices and data science, we foster new partnerships that transcend traditional boundaries. 

Recent Keynote

•  “Transforming Cities Through Artistic Practices in Collaboration and Co-Design” Keynote at Institute for Technology Assessment and System Analysis / ITAS Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

By exploring how artistic practices can fundamentally reshape urban spaces and foster collective engagement, this input delves into the dynamic intersection of art and urban collaboration. Drawing on concrete examples this presentation will discuss the transformative potential of art in the processes of urban co-creation. Research on artistic practices in participatory urban transformation sets a focus on power relations, which in classical urban research and in traditional participatory planning settings are still often over-looked. It will explore them as a rich and productive knowledge base, especially for living labs with a transdisciplinary focus.

Understand the power of collective effort in driving progress, fostering partnerships that transcend traditional boundaries.

Recent Keynotes

• “Breaking Silos, Building Bridges: Multistakeholder Collaboration in the digital City.”

Keynote at Korea Agency for Infrastructure and Technology Advancement (KAIA), Smart Sustainable Cities Conference, Seoul, 2023.

Urbanization is a defining feature of our time, with over half of the world's population now residing in cities. These urban centers, while being hubs of economic, social, and cultural development, also face significant challenges such as environmental degradation, social inequality, and inadequate access to essential services. The exacerbating effects of global climate change further complicate these issues. In response, cities worldwide are adopting sustainable urban development strategies to balance economic, social, and environmental considerations in urban planning and management.

By breaking down silos and fostering cooperative efforts among governments, private sectors, civil society, and residents, we can build bridges that promote inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urban environments. Participants gained insights into effective collaboration strategies, real-world case studies, and the importance of placing people at the center of smart city initiatives to create livable cities for all.