The Maker Movement has given rise to new and accessible ways to design, manufacture and produce in Europe and across the world. Enabled by digital fabrication and global communication infrastructure, Makers are changing the design and production paradigm. With such a change, in which ‘bits’ travel while ‘atoms’ stay local, a design reality is emerging that gives preference to open, collaborative, sustainable and ecosystemic practices. The New European Bauhaus, announced by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen as a key recovery initiative for Europe bringing together innovation, creativity, culture, and the European Green Deal; provides an opportunity for the distributed Platform of Distributed Design.

The Distributed Design Platform is pleased to have been accepted as an official partner of this initiative. As a distributed network of cultural organisations, makerspaces, education institutes and research centres, we believe that design has the potential to build sustainable, beautiful futures when distributed into the hands of people and their communities. With our 18 members across 13 EU countries, and the support of the Fab Lab Network, we will bring grassroots, bottom-up innovation to the momentous NEB co-design process being undertaken across Europe. Recommendations made to the co-design process by our platform will aim to demonstrate the potential of these global networks and provoke conversation around the role of distributed practices in relation to key topics of interest including social inclusion, new aesthetics and sustainability.

The Distributed Design Platform official partnership recognises the impact and potential of the 18 member organisations in 13 countries:

Fab Lab Barcelona (Institute of Advanced Architecture of Catalonia)
Pakhuis de Zwijger
P2P Lab
Re:Publica
HappyLab Vienna
Danish Design Centre
NYSKOPUNARMIDSTOD ISLANDS
Maker
Espacio Open
POLIMI (Politecnico di Milano)
Fab City Store (Ars Longa)
Other Today
FabLab Budapest
Fab Lab Benfica (Politecnico de Lisboa)
OpenDot
TalTech
Centre for Creativity (Museum Architecture and Design)
Paved with Gold

Interested to know more?
The Distributed Design Platform will host an event on the 22 April 12.00-14-00 CEST in the lead up to the first offical New European Bauhaus conference, in which we will also take part as an official partner. You can join see the roundtables and join the discussion, Makers and a Distributed Network Approach Towards a Green and Inclusive Europe by registering here.

Image credit: stefanoborghi.com