Pregnancy and early parenthood mark a transformative period where women become caregivers and assume a new role with new responsibilities. While often portrayed positively, the transition to motherhood can be overwhelming. This is especially true for women living in adverse circumstances, presenting …

In recent decades, higher education institutions have undergone a profound transformation, expanding their missions from teaching and research toward a stronger societal engagement and impact. Within this context, Dutch Universities of Applied Sciences (UASs) offer a distinctive case: since the formal …

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, …

"Sustainability education requires inter- and transdisciplinary approaches that integrate environmental, economic, technical, and social perspectives to address complex societal challenges. This article presents the bachelor’s and master’s programmes in Sustainable Development and Applied Sustainability …

Innovations often get stranded between concept and implementation, Living Labs serve as vital testing grounds where ideas are translated into real-world impact. At the Celcius House in Amersfoort, students, researchers, companies, and municipalities collaborate to shape the sustainable and healthy neighborhoods …

Gaasperdam, located in Amsterdam’s southeastern region, is a diverse neighborhood with a population of approximately 30, 000 residents. The area is characterized by a mix of social housing and privately owned homes, with several residential high-rises built during the 1970s and 1980s. In terms of education, …

Te midden van veranderende landschappen en hedendaagse druk op zowel de kunst als het plattelandsleven, richten beleidsmakers en kunstenaars steeds meer aandacht op rurale en niet-stedelijke culturele praktijken. Participatieve kunstvormen, zoals muziek, bieden een uniek potentieel om mensen met elkaar …

The Dutch SDG Barometer 2024 reveals a nuanced perspective on sustainability progress in the Netherlands. While awareness of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remains high among Dutch organizations, significant challenges persist in their prioritization, implementation and measurement. …

Today’s applied design researchers are where the action is. They have always operated as a catalyst of change: propelling and steering design and society into brighter futures. But now, more than ever, design researchers teamup with a broad range of stakeholders to get things done. They surround themselves …

What are the lessons that applied design researchers can take away from this book? What suggestions and recommendations can be derived from the experiences presented in the preceding chapters? On the one hand, it is clear that working with Living Labs offers unique opportunities to address some of society’s …