DATE & TIME
2 October 2025, 14:00 – 15:30
TRACKS
TRACK 3: Living Labs for Inclusive Soci(et)al Engagement
ROOM
BiciLab
Description
This workshop will critically examine inclusion and accessibility in Living Labs and other co-creative spaces. Through hands-on prototyping, participants will identify exclusion mechanisms and develop a shared vision for accessible, participatory innovation environments.
Agenda
Timeslot |
Item |
|---|---|
| 14:00 – 14:05 | Welcome & Intro – Introduction of facilitators and agenda |
| 14:05 – 14:15 | Best Practices Input – Presentation of inclusive lab case examples |
| 14:15 – 14:25 | Lab Anatomy – Brainstorm key lab components and cluster areas of focus |
| 14:25 – 14:45 | Group Work I: Paradox Intervention – Groups build highly exclusive lab prototypes |
| 14:45 – 14:55 | Group Presentations I – Share exclusion models and barrier explanations |
| 14:55 – 15:10 | Group Work II: Deconstruction – Identify and design counter strategies for inclusion |
| 15:10 – 15:25 | Group Presentations II – Present solutions and inclusive lab visions |
| 15:25 – 15:30 | Outlook & Next Steps – Wrap-up, blog/platform invitation, and further engagement info |
Facilitators
Wanda Gaertner
Researcher at the research group for Media, Innovation and Contemporary Technologies, Department of Industrial Systems Engineering and Product Design, Ghent University
Wanda Gaertner
Researcher at the research group for Media, Innovation and Contemporary Technologies, Department of Industrial Systems Engineering and Product Design, Ghent UniversityWanda Gaertner is a researcher at the MICT research group at Ghent University and a PhD candidate exploring inclusive and collaborative design of emerging technologies. With several years of experience in participatory and inclusive design, she focuses on how co-creation spaces such as Living Labs and makerspaces can become more accessible and equitable for diverse communities.
Ben Robaeyst
Researcher at the research group for Media, Innovation and Contemporary Technologies, Department of Communication Sciences, Ghent University
Ben Robaeyst
Researcher at the research group for Media, Innovation and Contemporary Technologies, Department of Communication Sciences, Ghent UniversityBen Robaeyst is a researcher at Ghent University’s MICT research group. His work focuses on co-creation, design thinking, and living lab methodologies, with a particular interest in inclusive innovation and societal impact.
Bastiaan Baccarne
Professor at the research group for Media, Innovation and Contemporary Technologies, Department of Industrial Systems Engineering and Product Design, Ghent University
Bastiaan Baccarne
Professor at the research group for Media, Innovation and Contemporary Technologies, Department of Industrial Systems Engineering and Product Design, Ghent UniversityProf. Dr. Bas Baccarne is a socio-technologist and professor of design methodology at imec-mict-UGent and design.nexus. His work focuses on inclusive design, futures thinking, and societal impact through Living Labs, employing participatory design and research-through-design methodologies.