Abstract
The public sector's digital transformation fosters collaboration and experimenta-tion, integrating design practices like design thinking, service design, and system design, notably in public innovation labs. Despite progress, these labs face chal-lenges in effecting change, transferring knowledge, and gaining cultural ac-ceptance. Public Innovation Labs (PIL) prioritize the common good, unlike profit-centric private counterparts. Design Research Labs (DRL), rooted in arts and de-sign, share this mission, offering a unique perspective on public sector innova-tion. Exploring the potential of DRLs in supporting public labs, this paper outlines criteria based on five DRLs in the German academic design context. It provides a new perspective on public lab characteristics, aiming to enhance understanding of their role in fostering innovation within the public sector.
Keywords
design practices; innovation hubs; design research labs; organizational design; policy design; design for public innovation; social design; service design
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2024.643
Citation
Augsten, A., and Harles, L. (2024) Fostering Design Research Labs for Public Sector Innovation, in Gray, C., Ciliotta Chehade, E., Hekkert, P., Forlano, L., Ciuccarelli, P., Lloyd, P. (eds.), DRS2024: Boston, 23–28 June, Boston, USA. https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2024.643
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Conference Track
Research Paper
Included in
Fostering Design Research Labs for Public Sector Innovation
The public sector's digital transformation fosters collaboration and experimenta-tion, integrating design practices like design thinking, service design, and system design, notably in public innovation labs. Despite progress, these labs face chal-lenges in effecting change, transferring knowledge, and gaining cultural ac-ceptance. Public Innovation Labs (PIL) prioritize the common good, unlike profit-centric private counterparts. Design Research Labs (DRL), rooted in arts and de-sign, share this mission, offering a unique perspective on public sector innova-tion. Exploring the potential of DRLs in supporting public labs, this paper outlines criteria based on five DRLs in the German academic design context. It provides a new perspective on public lab characteristics, aiming to enhance understanding of their role in fostering innovation within the public sector.