A new perspective on youth participation in municipal policy

How can we look differently at youth participation in municipal policy? This question was central to Susanna Osinga’s graduation project for the Master’s in Strategic Product Design at TU Delft. Her graduation project was part of the Healthy Start postdoc project on youth participation in policy with Irene Fierloos, Betsie Loeffen, Milene Gonçalves, Mieke van der Bijl-Brouwer, Lysanne te Brinke and Arwin Van Buuren. Through this project, we experienced what we had in mind: an innovative collaboration between designers, social sciences and public administration, which led to innovative insights and action.

Understanding the project

Despite numerous efforts to involve young people, it remains a challenge to shape participation in municipal policy in a meaningful way. Susanna used the Frame Innovation method to look at challenges and opportunities for youth participation in a new way; to ‘reframe’.

A creative approach

Through a mix of design-led research, including creative sessions with stakeholders, the diverse perspectives of both young people and policy advisors have been mapped and we have a better understanding of what is important to them.

Susanna’s report and accompanying animation provide direction for improving youth participation in Rotterdam and offer concrete starting points for improvement, such as a ‘travel agency’ for youth participation.