Relational design practices in design for social innovation: a place-centred approach

This paper reflects on how relational art can contribute to participatory approaches in design for social innovation research and practices applied in community engagement processes towards the regeneration of commons in rural contexts. Inland areas, small towns far from large urban centres, today face urgent challenges to counter the process of abandonment and devaluation. The loss of primary services such as schools and the exodus to the cities increase their fragility. In the wake of the pandemic, many reflections on the role of public space have emerged: the recovery of a renewed human scale dimension and the need to manage the converging effects of the climate emergency, health pandemics, and economic collapse through collective and systemic action require carefully designed systems’ transitions. This perspective calls for the emergence of horizontal and participatory strategies, which aim to valorise resources by counteracting abandonment and weakening of social relations. Following these reflections, the paper illustrates an ongoing participatory process involving the community of Albugnano, a town of approximately 500 inhabitants in the Basso Monferrato area (Italy), as part of the activities of the “Human Cities / SMOTIES, Creative works with small and remote places” research project.