Working at the junction: reconciling numbers and vulnerabilities

The article discusses the need for a new approach to development that combines human and qualitative insights with numerical analysis. It argues that the traditional models of competitiveness, growth, and prosperity are no longer sufficient, as the world undergoes a significant transformation, due to both digital and green imperatives. Analysing the complexity and drivers of change, the author points out that the digital transformation and the increased centrality of data have made development models increasingly hinged on quantitative/statistical analysis. The availability, centrality, and use of data currently steer the way forward and occupy decision-makers’ minds, despite the – often – skewed, flattened, and biased nature of data sets. To overcome these limits, the article suggests looking at design practice as a way to balance perspectives, working at the junction where the dominant logics of quantitative analysis can be blended with qualitative and thick knowledge. This can help reconcile humans and their vulnerabilities with numbers, leading to explore intriguing new directions for research and practice.