Transition co-design dynamics in high level policy processes

Abstract

Despite the increasing interest in bringing together the fields of sustainability transitions and design research, the ways transition design connects to earlier theories on design action have not been extensively studied. By using Buchanan’s (1992; 1998) ‘four orders of design’ and Young’s (2008) ‘complexity in design’ models as a framework, this article provides an empirical example of how to examine transition co-design dynamics. With a case study of a national sustainable development strategy creation in Finland, we argue that design does not only contribute to transition processes instrumentally but also from attitudinal and intellectual perspectives. Designing for transitions blends existing forms of design work for success, and it offers new agencies for design in supporting governance of highly complex policy processes.