How do we stimulate healthy choices in (spatial)
decision-making?

How do we stimulate healthy choices in (spatial)
decision-making?

Healthy incentives in the environment

Healthy incentives in the environment

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Health in everything around us

Places where we live, work, and stay have a significant impact on our health. Not only measurable factors, such as air quality and noise levels play a role, but also less tangible factors, such as contact with neighbors, space for social interactions, movement, tranquility, and personal development.

Precisely because health is influenced so broadly, it is important that we take this wide view of health into account when making decisions about our environment. But how?

Health in everything around us

Places where we live, work, and stay have a significant impact on our health. Not only measurable factors, such as air quality and noise levels play a role, but also less tangible factors, such as contact with neighbors, space for social interactions, movement, tranquility, and personal development.

Precisely because health is influenced so broadly, it is important that we take this wide view of health into account when making decisions about our environment. But how?

Learning about the position of health

Health in our living environment often revolves around environmental standards. Standards to avoid harming health. But what if we turn this around: how does our living environment actively contribute to our well-being? Although there is a lot of knowledge about factors that positively influence health, it sometimes proves challenging to implement these in practice with so many different interests and stakeholders.

Values inevitably clash when we take a broad, social view of health – of people, nature, and environment – at the center of spatial decision-making. How do we continue to steer from healthy incentives even then?

This design research begins with the question: 'What is currently the position of health in spatial decision-making?' What tools, language, and processes do involved parties use? And how do we together make something abstract like health tangible?

Learning about the position of health

Health in our living environment often revolves around environmental standards. Standards to avoid harming health. But what if we turn this around: how does our living environment actively contribute to our well-being? Although there is a lot of knowledge about factors that positively influence health, it sometimes proves challenging to implement these in practice with so many different interests and stakeholders.

Values inevitably clash when we take a broad, social view of health – of people, nature, and environment – at the center of spatial decision-making. How do we continue to steer from healthy incentives even then?

This design research begins with the question: 'What is currently the position of health in spatial decision-making?' What tools, language, and processes do involved parties use? And how do we together make something abstract like health tangible?

Design research

As a social designer, I enjoy engaging in conversation with various experts to explore how a broad, social perspective on health can be tangibly positioned. The assumption is that less measurable aspects may fade into the background in a field focused on more concrete factors. In 2024, we will chart the current position of health, and in 2025, we will test new, tangible forms to keep health permanently on the agenda.

Timeline

During Dutch Design Week and in November, we are happy to plan expert discussions to learn together about the positioning of health within spatial decision-making.

Enthusiastic? Join us in conversation at one of the following moments:

During Dutch Design Week and in November, we would like to plan expert discussions to learn together about the positioning of health within spatial decision-making.

Enthusiastic? Talk to us at one of the following times:

Tuesday, October 22 during Dutch Design Week

short sessions with a maximum of 4 participants lasting half an hour.

Times: 11:30, 13:30, 15:30

Sign up!

1:1 conversations in November and December

- Tue 5, Thu 7, Fri 8 November

- Tue 19, Thu 21, Fri 22 November

- Tue 3, Thu 5, Fri 6 December

Schedule an expert conversation

Think along?

From policymakers to spatial designers, from the RIVM to housing corporations, and from healthcare organizations to project developers - we would like to discuss how you are engaged in your work with health in relation to the living environment and what opportunities and/or barriers you see and experience.

Studio Marleen van Bergeijk

Studio Owner

Marleen van Bergeijk

Social designer focusing on health - with a great curiosity about how to make intangible values tangible within systems.

Design Intern

Aydin Genchsoy

Design intern (Industrial Design), working on a tangible conversation format to bring health to the table in a new way.