In this co-design project, we wanted to better understand how leverage point theory could be applied to the social design field. We also wanted to develop an alternative perspective on and language for the different systemic levels design needs to tackle to contribute to societal impact and long-term …

In this chapter, we will elaborate on how philosophy and design can meet by way of the application of tools from the philosophy of technology in the practice of design. We will discuss how this meeting may be mutually beneficial and how it may improve the practice of designing as well as philosophical …

This article examines how collaborative design practices in higher education are reshaped through postdigital entanglement with generative artificial intelligence (GenAI). We collectively explore how co-design, an inclusive, iterative, and relational approach to educational design and transformation, …

Introduction: Several barriers, such as lack of time, knowledge and support, hinder clinicians from providing an individually tailored physical activity (PA) prescription and referral to their patients. As a result, “exercise is medicine” (E = M) is not systematically implemented in clinical care today. …

This study investigates how human resemblance in avatars shapes mind perception. Virtual worlds are often praised for their potential to transform how people collaborate, learn, and play. Yet this promise relies on our willingness to treat others in a genuinely human way. Mind perception theory defines …

Trackpilots can help inland skippers sail an optimal route with minimal human input, which has the potential to save fuel costs and lower crew workload. In theory, widespread adoption of trackpilots is not only beneficial for crew on board, but also for traffic operators ashore. Data from trackpilots …

In the face of increasingly complex societal challenges, the field of social design is being called upon to deepen its ability to create long-term, systemic impact. This project, conducted with five experienced social designers and one workshop in our ESConference in 2025, explored how systems thinking, …

Over the past ten years, the ecosystem concept has been used to frame innovation and transition endeavours undertaken by multi-actor groups. Systemic design initiatives are broadly engaging with ecosystems. The concept and phenomenon have been central in theory as well as practice, though remain contested …

This study describes the development of a program theory for play therapy as an intervention for children and young people with mild intellectual disabilities and difficulties with aggression regulation. The program theory was developed in collaboration with registered play therapists through focus …

Citizen science has demonstrated potential to foster local changes in public health, including physical (in)activity. We used community-engaged citizen science to explore how to improve the exercise-friendliness of a Dutch neighborhood, chosen because it scored below average on important health parameters. …