Social innovation: from incubating to envisioning. Recovering the strategic dimension of designing supporting social innovation

Cities are pivotal in addressing uncertainties of the future, grappling with social, environmental, and economic tensions while exploring participatory and innovative approaches to foster societal creativity. Social innovation has emerged as a transformative force, supported by design for social innovation, which aids in developing and scaling initiatives. Cities exemplify programs that encourage citizens to experiment with sustainable living ideas. However, these programs often lack a cohesive vision to connect and inspire bottom-up solutions. This chapter critically examines the role of design in envisioning future-oriented social innovation policies, grounded in the experience of La Scuola dei Quartieri (The School of Neighborhoods), a Milan Municipality initiative (2018–2023) co-funded by the European Union. It fostered social innovation through scouting, training, and prototyping, offering low-barrier entry to encourage diverse participation. Organized into four annual cycles, it connected local needs with prospective innovators, offering training, grants, and personalized support to develop sustainable projects addressing neighborhood challenges. Design played a strategic role in the program, particularly during the scouting phase, which emphasized envisioning future cities and fostering thematic cohesion. By integrating stakeholders, resources, and networks, this phase enabled impactful experimentation and the scaling of solutions. The chapter underscores design’s potential to drive systemic change by shaping aspirational visions, positioning it as a cultural and strategic force for lasting transformation, beyond mere technical application.