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Projects from DESIS Labs
A 4-year program for nurturing and incubating social innovation in target neighborhoods of Milano. Promoted by the Municipality, funded by EU PON METRO and managed by a consortium of partners it aims to create projects designed and implemented by citizens, to improve the life of neighborhoods. See the PDF below or download it here. DESIS_LaScuola-Anna-M POLIMI DESIS LabSubmitted by: Anna MeroniInstitution: Politecnico di MilanoCountry: ItalyWebsite: lascuoladeiquartieri.it/ [...]
We design a data-based smart community platform, named Life Circle. This platform collects and integrates many kinds of real-time data, including community geographic information data, population data, surrounding business service information, and transforms these data to a real-time community map. Corresponding to the community facilities in the “15-minute living circle”，the platform provides safety and convenience for residents and meets the need to avoid crowd gathering and rush hours for shopping. Through the community heat map in the platform, users can inquire about the crowd density of the community and surrounding business district services. Besides, by using the route planning function in the platform, users can realize intelligent route planning to avoid high-risk areas and save travel time. In addition, the platform cooperates with relevant operators to provide the release of business information and appointment service, so as to ensure the basic living services of residents during the epidemic. Tsinghua DESIS LabAuthors: Meng Zhao, Gao Songling, Yu SiAdvisor: Fu Zhiyong, Zhong FangInstitution: Tsinghua UniversityCountry: China See attachments below: [...]
为疫情下的医护人员设计的共享睡眠舱 A shared sleeping cabin for medical staff in an epidemic situation Since the outbreak of the epidemic, the work intensity of medical staff has been high, with an average daily working time of 10 hours. Only a small number of local doctors and nurses can go home after work alone. Most of medical staff from other places live in surrounding hotels. ICU doctors are not allowed to leave the hospital for a long time or have distance restrictions, so they need to be on standby at any time. The medical staff on duty can only rest on the spot in the hospital. Click here to read more. Desis-Meeting-posters-Jiangnan-University-4 Jiangnan DESIS LabAuthors: Zheng Lin, Lu Yiyi, Yang Yaqing, Tao KexinTutor: Qian XiaoboCo-tutors: Xiao Dongjuan, Zhong Fang (Tsinghua University), Zhang Jun (Hunan University)Institution: Jiangnan UniversityCountry: China [...]
This project investigates the way that people can connect in a time of pandemic, despite the focus on hand hygiene. How does the way we use our hands, signal with our hands and care for our hands, change the way that we meet and conduct ourselves in public? Can these patterns be influenced now? The Emily Carr DESIS LabSubmitted by: Louise Saint PierreInstitution: Emily Carr University of Art + DesignCountry: Canada [...]
The project seeks to promote sustainability; provide an enabling environment for Design and Innovation. The goal is to identify solutions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana. “Sankofa” is an Afrikan proverb, meaning – “go-back and get-it”. Moving Forward, we must not forget the Past. DESIS KNUSTSubmitted by: Ralitsa DebrahInstitution: Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyCountry: Ghana [...]
One million masks Historically Capital of Seamstresses, Belo Horizonte Capital of Fashion, today sees a movement in the sector in order to meet the great demand for masks, in the fight to prevent the increase of contamination by COVID-19. The movement started with some entrepreneurs who, spontaneously and voluntarily, organized themselves to produce masks to meet requests for donations from hospitals and philanthropic entities in the metropolitan region. The project has the support and participation of CEDTec, DESIS Lab at the State University of Minas Gerais. 1mm CEDTec UEMGSubmitted by: Rita EnglerInstitution: State Univesity of Minas GeraisCountry: BrazilWebsite: ummilhaodemascaras.com.br/ [...]
Travel and material service design during isolation. Check complete project here. Desis-Meeting-posters-Jiangnan-University-1 Jiangnan DESIS LabAuthors: Gao Letian, Yan Yan, Deng Zhijun, Wang ZhiweiTutor: Qian XiaoboCo-tutors: Xiao Dongjuan, Zhong Fang (Tsinghua University), Zhang Jun (Hunan University)Institution: Jiangnan UniversityCountry: China [...]
18 students doing joint interventions to their own families during COVID-19 isolation. they asses and transform everyday problems that are common to 3 families. The idea is to focus attention on hyperlocal necessities and find out how low resource solutions are developed. DISCA LabSubmitted by: Edgard David Rincón QuijanoInstitution: Universidad del Norte Country: Colombia [...]
We are documenting responses to Corona crises in the city of Malmö to inform a design and reflection process with the cultural department to explore new forms for supporting cultural and social initiatives fostering resilience. We wish to connect also to other cities/DESIS Labs.Download complete project description here or read it below. Malmö University DESIS LabAuthors: Anders Emilson, Anna SeravalliInstitution: Institute för Sustainable City Development, Malmö UniversityCountry: Sweden MalmöDESIS [...]
Designmatters will be offering 5 studio courses this summer on topics that COVID-19 challenges have brought into the spotlight. Designmatters at ArtcenterSubmitted by: Jennifer MayInstitution: ArtCenterCountry: USA DM-TDS-Summer-2020_04.10.20_v3-Jennie-May [...]
It is a new initiative, related to a previous project “My Neighbourhood Project”, a co-design process developed by Rio DESIS Lab team in one of the neighbourhood squares. Due to the social isolation process on COVID-19, it has moved online.The initiative aims to facilitate collaboration between residents to face COVID-19 challenges and to boost the local exchanges by organizing a map on which residents can pinpoint their location and indicate their abilities or characteristics, for example, by volunteering to assist those in need or by offering services as a small business providerThe map is part of a territorial process of collaborative creation under development in Grajaú – a neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro/Brazil – in partnership with a collaborative housing (Casa Anitcha) in the same area.Casa Anitcha is developing and proposing a local currency (called NIT) which is a possibility in times of economic crisis to enable some exchanges between participants.The collaborative mapping is a project that supports the activities of the original “My Neighbourhood Project” in the square, by strengthening the bonds and collaborations between residents, which is an essential part of the co-design process under development and is expected to continue after the COVID-19 crisis. UFRJ/Coppe DESIS Lab (Rio DESIS Lab)Authors: Ana Oliveira, Beatriz Lopes, Beatriz Marins, Enzo Esberard, Ingrid Bico, Matheus Ventura, Victor CostaTutor: Carla CipollaInstitution: Federal University of Rio de JaneiroCountry: BrazilWebsite: desis.rio.br (available, in progress) [...]
Doorman Room is the special element for gated community in China, 1-2 located in different entrances depend on the community scale. The project will focus on the existing condition of the doorman room and using the design strategy to create new narratives for a resilient community. Discovering how doorman room could link with the local brand, community service, activity, social interaction through the creation of the place in physical, social and environmental way.DR2.0 placemaking strategy refers to the small, local, open, connected (SLOC) scenario which toward sustainable solutions and synthesize the sociotechnical system. The project initiatives by the Tongji DESIS Lab and supervised by Narrative Environment and Placemaking course from the College of Design Innovation Tongji University. Click here to download project description or read it below. Tongji DESIS LabSubmitted by: Sabrina Minqing NiInstitution: Tongji UniversityCountry: China DESIStongji [...]
Collaborative project by health and education neighboring private institutions, to promote protective measures, offer emotional support, pantries and thermometers to the most vulnerable neighbors. It supports local encomies by employing neighbors for management and delivery of goods. CENTRO Social Design HubSubmitted by: Paulina CornejoInstitution: CENTRO Country: MexicoWebsite: https://www3.centro.edu.mx/comunidad-mas-unidos-mas-fuertes/ [...]
Design research project with 3rd year students of Design to understand caring habits to vulnerable populations (particularly the elderly and infected patients) during the lockdown. The goal is to unveil emerging behaviors that can signal shifts in the way we regard and act on care. DESIS Lab ElisavaSubmitted by: Julia BeniniInstitution: ELISAVACountry: Spain [...]
Orikánika is a composting currency used within the island for the conservation and development of theentire territory. As environmental investment bond we seek to support and raise the necessary resourcesthat will be able to supply all families and inhabitants in the midst of this situation.https://islaunika.org/la-gente-del-manglar/ DISCA LabSubmitted by: Edgard David Rincón QuijanoInstitution: Universidad del NorteCountry: Colombia [...]
This service design product is an applet for community restaurant members. Starting with the business difficulties under the epidemic situation, we hope to help small restaurant to complete the transformation of digital management and online business using APP platform we suggested. Aiming at their pain points during this epidemic period, we proposed solution strategy from four aspects: Management Strategy, Marketing Promotion, Obtaining market information and Epidemic prevention. Tsinghua DESIS LabAdvisor: Zhong FangInstitution: Tsinghua UniversityCountry: China [...]
目前疫情已经得到有效控制，高校也即将迎来复学阶段。为了有序正常的开学，保证每一位同学和老师的健康，本设计分为复学防护建议科普视频和人数地图小程序两部分。科普视频对典型复学场景进行防护建议：校内公共区域全面消毒；师生返校需积极配合学校的健康检测；同学之间保持安全距离；对教学楼、宿舍楼定时开窗通风；上课时间隔入座，课间不聚集；坚持体育锻炼，增强免疫力；错峰用餐，就餐保证同侧就座，不共享食物；留出学生宿舍指定隔离区域；从室外进到室内要立即洗手，或用免洗洗手液进行手部消毒；每楼层配备专用口罩垃圾回收箱等。通过人数地图小程序可提前查看学校公共区域当前人数，避免扎堆。全力做好疫情防控工作是我们每一个人的责任，祝同学们能够早日回到校园！ Recently, the epidemic in China has been effectively controlled, and colleges and universities are about to resume their semesters. In order to restore normal school life and to ensure health conditions of every student and teacher, this design is divided into two parts: a series of informative videos that provide preventative and protective suggestions and a mini program that contains a populational heat map of the campus. The informative videos provide suggestions based on typical scenes of the campus such as: the public areas on campus are completely disinfected; Teachers and students returning to campus must actively cooperate with all health assessments; Students should keep a safe distance between each other; Open windows for constant ventilation in buildings and dormitories; Sit apart during class and avoid gatherings during breaks; Insist on exercising to enhance immunity; Avoid peak meal times, sit on the same side of the table, do not share food; Set aside designated isolation areas in dormitories; Wash hands immediately after coming in from the outside, or use hand sanitizer for disinfection; Each floor is equipped with special medical waste recycling bins. Through the mini program, students can check the current number of people in various public areas on campus in advance to avoid clustering. It is everyone’s responsibility to do our best to prevent and control the epidemic. Hope to see all colleagues soon! Tsinghua DESIS LabAdvisor: Zhong FangInstitution: Tsinghua UniversityCountry: China [...]
3 PONTINHOS emerged due to the fact that many children do not have adequate entertainment in view of the situation we are going through. This service aims to develop children’s motor and cognitive abilities through different digital content available on our website. ID+ DESIS LabAuthors: Beatriz Barros, Mafalda Santos, Joana Marques, Marta Krippahl, Adriana Candido, Francisco WiechertInstitution: Universidade de AveiroCountry: Portugalfacebook.com/3-Pontinhos-115359993495031/instagram.com/3pontinhooos/3pontinhosinfo.wixsite.com/meusite/ [...]
At the beginning of 2020, Wuhan was closed down and the whole country was shut down. In the face of this emergency, more than 1.37 million volunteers emerged around us making great efforts for the logistics support of front-line soldiers and the operation of social foundation. But at the same time, they also faced many difficulties and challenges. The imperfect social volunteer system cannot provide them with strong logistical support in an emergency. Volun!ty hopes that through their design, the PSS can provide possible solutions for this situation and improve the work efficiency of volunteers on the premise of ensuring their physical and mental health, so as to obtain better volunteer service experience. Open or download complete PDF here. Desis-Meeting-posters-Jiangnan-University-3 Jiangnan DESIS LabAuthors: Zhao Hang, Xiao Jiayi, Chen Yujie, Lin JiayuTutor: Qian XiaoboCo-tutors: Xiao Dongjuan, Zhong Fang (Tsinghua University), Zhang Jun (Hunan University)Institution: Jiangnan UniversityCountry: China [...]
“Portàporta” is a delivery service that meets the needs of the elderly, such as meals, medicines, etc. It also has as one of its main objectives to support its business partners (eg, restaurants), allowing a continuous economic flow for all the sectors involved. ID+ DESIS LabAuthors: Joana Isabel da Silva FerreiraInstitution: Universidade de AveiroCountry: Portugal [...]
Our design is mainly for the vulnerable groups in the community in need of help under the background of the epidemic, such as: empty nest elderly, children at home alone and disabled people with a certain ability to live on their own, provide basic life support during the epidemic, as well as convenient life services after the epidemic. Jiangnan DESIS LabAuthors: Liang Longhao, Zhao Xinyang, Pan Mengjiao, Luo XuehanTutor: Qian XiaoboCo-tutors: Xiao Dongjuan, Zhong Fang (Tsinghua University), Zhang Jun (Hunan University)Institution: Jiangnan UniversityCountry: China desis-meeting-posters-jiangnan-university-2-2020-04-22-at-6.13.10-am Download PDF here. [...]
Key features and overview• When they hear about the epidemic, they are more nervous than ordinary people;• Decreased resistance during pregnancy;• Worried about her child’s health;• Inconvenient to move and need company. Continue reading on the embedded project below or click here to download PDF. Jiangnan DESIS LabAuthors: Zhan Weiqin, He Lanshan, Xia Xi, Zhu WenboTutor: Qian XiaoboCo-tutors: Xiao Dongjuan, Zhong Fang (Tsinghua University), Zhang Jun (Hunan University)Institution: Jiangnan UniversityCountry: China Desis-Meeting-posters-Jiangnan-University-3-2020-04-22-at-6.13.33-AM [...]
Mutual Aid groups are providing informal and essential services to vulnerable neighbours. We have created a visual guide to stop the spread of COVID-19 while helping your community. It guides volunteers and neighbours through the process of getting help, shopping and unpacking the delivery. DESIS Lab University of the Arts LondonSubmitted by: Lara SalinasInstitution: University of the Arts LondonCountry: EnglandWebsite: Food_delivery_v2_EN_UK_GENERAL-1-1-Lara-Salinas Download PDF here. [...]
Facilities like museums and art galleries they are forced to close during the quarantine, resulting in their inability to make any kind of revenue. Furthermore, the more time it passes the more they can become neglected.For children, they might be too young to understand the severity of the pandemic and being forced to stay at home for such a long period of time may lead to frustration and boredom. As they are not going to school anymore, they seek attention and entertainment from their parents.Most of the parents that are staying at home need to work during the week. They find it difficult to tend to their children while having to work at the same time. Tsinghua DESIS LabAuthors: Marco Ceruti, Alessandro Fasano, Lisa WengInstitution: Tsinghua UniversityCountry: China Tsinghua-5 Click here to download the PDF. [...]
If we talk about the exploration of limits, possibly the COVID-19 outbreak is one of the situations that impose on us more limits and restrictions. The project emerges from the idea of exploring the limits that the present health emergency implies, as a space of separation as well as of contact. DESIS Lab ElisavaSubmitted by: Mar Gené CuairanAuthor: Mar Gené CuairanTutors: Albert Fuster, Daria de SetaInstitution: ELISAVACountry: Spain ELISAVA-Barcelona_DESIS_Mar_Gené Download complete PDF with other projects from Elisava here. [...]
Online Expressions of Emotion on Community Platform 疫情期间，阳台成为了一个重要的符号，象征着连接与团结，传递着感恩与希望。我们的项目使用阳台作为视觉符号，搭建一个社区内部的情感表达与展示平台，有助于促进社区内的沟通与情感表达、增强社区凝聚力与复原力（Resilience, solidarity and unity）。 在疫情期间，我们以可交互的H5形式发起“致敬社区逆行者”主题活动，展示社区工作者们的故事，并邀请居民在线上阳台表达对他们的感谢，为社区工作者提供关注与支持，也让社区居民在互动中感受到连接与团结，形成一个积极的社区氛围。疫情结束后，该平台还可以承载更多的功能，比如举办“社区歌唱家”、“社区摄影师”等主题活动，提供社区内的心理互助功能等，让阳台展现更多元的社区生活、更充分地连接每一个居民。During the epidemic, the balcony became an important symbol, symbolizing connection and unity, conveyinggratitude and hope.Our project uses the balcony as a visual symbol to build an emotional expression and display platform within thecommunity, which helps to promote communication and emotional expression within the community, andenhance community cohesion and resilience.During the epidemic, we launched the theme activity of ” Pay gratitude to community works ” in the form of H5,to show the stories of the community workers, and invited the residents to express their gratitude online on thebalcony, to provide concern and support for the community workers, and to let the community residents feel theconnection and unity in the interaction, forming a positive community atmosphere.After the epidemic, the platform can also carry more functions, such as holding “community singers”,“community photographers” and other theme activities, providing the function of psychological mutualassistance in the community, so that the balcony can show more diverse community life, connecting eachresident more fully.Background:The coronavirus outbreak has driven millions of people to shelter at home for long days of anxiousness and boredom. Incountry after country, people have responded by taking to their balconies to sing to one another, to applaud and showgratitude to their health-care workers, to play music, and to lift one another’s spirits. This is perhaps one of the most iconicsolidarity initiative to have spread faster than the coronavirus pandemic. It seems that there is a common understanding of thespirit of balcony.Spirit of Balcony:Connection and Unity. In times of stress and illness, being deprived of social connection cancreate more stress and illness. People around the world are spontaneously seeking out humanconnection and show unity through balcony.Appreciation.People sing, clap from balconies as part of a nationwide initiative to express their gratitude andrespect to the medical staff working on the frontline against the virus.Hope.There are banners and encouragements and songs in different languages which convey the samemeaning– ‘Everything will be fine’ Tsinghua DESIS LabAdvisor: Zhong FangInstitution: Tsinghua UniversityCountry: China [...]
Making for Change is a training and manufacturing programme providing women in prison and local community with hands-on manufacturing skills and recognised qualifications. Currently making much needed clothing for staff within the NHS. Click here to read more. MFC-overview-17042020-Claire-Swift DESIS Lab University of the Arts LondonSubmitted by: Claire SwiftInstitution: University of the Arts LondonCountry: England [...]
The wisdom of people living in Long Term Care (LTC) is being overlooked – they’ve lived through wars, through pandemics, and have much to teach us. LTC Radio sets up recording stations in care homes so that people can share their stories safely with their communities and families. The Emily Carr DESIS Lab + The Emily Carr Health Design LabSubmitted by: Lisa Boulton, Louise Saint PierreInstitution: Emily Carr University of Art + DesignCountry: Canada [...]
HelloHealth is a project which aims to bring accessibility to healthcare to the underserved communities of the world. This project aims to tackle the challenge of accessibility by using a combination of low-cost medical devices, and a distributed manufacturing network. DESIS Lab Elisava (in collaboration with Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, in the context of Master in Design for Emergent Futures)Submitted by: Rutvij PathakAuthor: Rutvij PathakTutors: Oscar Tomico, Tomás DíezInstitution: ELISAVA and IAACCountry: Spain ELISAVA-Barcelona_DESIS-April-16-presentation15-16 Click here to download PDF. [...]
Our project _comvida (with life) share good projects and promote other initiatives to help people during this terrible moment. Our first initiative was flowers_comvida, we gave flowers to health professional in different hospitals to say how thankful we are, they are our heroes. ID+ DESIS LabAuthors: Liliana Teixeira, Filipe SilvaInstitution: Universidade de AveiroCountry: PortugalInstagram: @todoscomvidaFacebook: Comvida [...]
This is a metadesign experience, using images and audios of people who were quarantined in southern Brazil during May 2020. These polyphonic scenarios expands the interpretive space on the plurality and diversity of discourses present in these narratives. Ver essa foto no Instagram Uma publicação compartilhada por Janelas Polifônicas (@janelaspolifonicas) em 23 de Jun, 2020 às 7:23 PDT SeedingLabSubmitted by: Claudia Palma da SilvaInstitution: University of the Rio dos Sinos Valley (UNISINOS)Country: BrazilWebsite: https://www.instagram.com/janelaspolifonicas/ [...]
Pet’s voice, to help volunteers and pet owners with low cost social action, rescue left-behind pets, and prevent large numbers of pet deaths and pollution caused by epidemics. Read more on the PDF. Desis-Meeting-posters-Jiangnan-University-2 Jiangnan DESIS LabAuthors: Mao Jiaqian, Shi Tianyi, Zheng Xinru, YuanyingTutor: Qian XiaoboCo-tutors: Xiao Dongjuan, Zhong Fang (Tsinghua University), Zhang Jun (Hunan University)Institution: Jiangnan UniversityCountry: China [...]
Seven students from the University of Aveiro created an initiative, within the scope of the discipline of Design for Social Innovation. To help fight the Covid-19 pandemic, Projeto Ó was created to manufacture community masks. ID+ DESIS LabAuthors: Ana Lopes, Ana Ferreira, Carolina Nicolau, Catarina Amaral, Maria João Pires, Mariana Ramos, Patrícia CalvárioInstitution: Universidade de AveiroCountry: PortugalWebsite: https://projetoo2020.wixsite.com/projetooInstagram: @projeto_o_2020 [...]
Was set up by staff at CSM to encourage the collective making of thousands of washable fabric masks to protect ourselves an​d the workers who are protecting us. Our interest is also in the benefits and solace of making in such unpredictable times when options for active involvement seem limited. https://www.instagram.com/peoples_masks/ DESIS Lab University of the Arts LondonSubmitted by: Margot BannermanInstitution: University of the Arts LondonCountry: England [...]
A project asking students and the public to make medical scrubs for the NHS. Each one can be made from cotton including old sheets and duvets as long as it can be washed at 90 degrees. Students were encouraged to embroider, sew or write a message of thanks on or within the garments. These were then delivered to the most needy hospitals.https://www.arts.ac.uk/students/stories/csm-loves-nhs DESIS Lab University of the Arts LondonSubmitted by: Oonagh O’HaganInstitution: University of the Arts LondonCountry: England [...]

Projects from partners and Initiatives
The Center for Design at Northeastern University (Boston, USA) has launched Design for Emergency, an open design platform to face the Covid-19 emergency through design. https://www.designforemergency.com  Through this project, we are collecting data on the problems, needs, and feelings of people dealing with Covid-19 containment measures, such as home isolation and social distancing. The initiative, launched in March, has soon become global, and it is currently active in USA, Brazil, Mexico, Ecuador, Perú, Italy, UK, Spain, France, South Korea, and Thailand. If you are interested in participating in this research by disseminating the survey in your country, please contact Sara Colombo (s.colombo@northeastern.edu) and Paolo Ciuccarelli (p.ciuccarelli@northeastern.edu). Results of this ongoing analysis are being used to inform the design of new solutions that connect, inform, support, and entertain communities in new ways, both during the emergency, and in the next phases. Such solutions are published on the platform as open seed ideas. Submitted by: Sara ColomboAuthors: Sara Colombo, Paolo CiuccarelliInstitution: Center for Design (CAMD) | Northeastern University, BostonCountry: USA, Brazil, Mexico, Ecuador, Perú, Italy, UK, Spain, France, South Korea, and ThailandMore info: designforemergency.com DesignForEmergency_Northeastern-University Download PDF here. [...]
It is an initiative proposed by the DESIS Lab of Tsinghua University, together with other five DESIS Labs in China. The projects developed under this category are conducted during this semester’s undergraduate and master courses of service design and system design. The current design concepts proposed by the students include the popularisation of personal protection knowledge, community epidemic prevention platforms, community mutual assistance tool, and volunteer support for vulnerable groups. Community workers, psychologists, restaurant owners, etc. were invited to conduct online interviews and instructions to make up for the missing field research. [...]