Design Thinking changes: Shaping the future at Teufelsberg

This project was dedicated to a challenge that required a great deal of innovation. It was: “Design a concept for a neutral, internationally operating research institute whose goal is to transform politics in the face of diverse, self-interested interest groups!”

At the beginning, the project team identified researchers, political decision-makers, civil servants and activists as the most important groups. It was already clear that policy making lacks an inspiring and safe space that regularly brings these groups together, promotes intersectional collaboration and thus fosters political change.

Teufelsberg in the west of Berlin is the ideal location for this. After all, it is steeped in change: from the planned military engineering faculty under the Nazis, to the listening station during the Cold War, to one of the world's largest street art galleries. With this unique history, it perfectly embodies the transformation that the project itself seeks.

Watch the GDTA Spotlight, in which the team from the Teufelsberg Transformation Lab is a guest (from min.: 17:45). Monika Frech explains the transformation of the HPI d-school in the first quarter of an hour.

The project team's prototype is aptly named “Up the Hill.” It impresses with well-thought-out individual components that are not only connected to each other but also build on each other: 

The co-design session is a central part of the prototype. It brings together various actors, such as politicians, activists and people interested in Teufelsberg. Together, they develop ideas for a Policy Transformation Lab. The sessions can be either topic-specific or general.

The “Audio Walk” is another component of the resulting prototype. A 20-minute journey allows visitors to experience the Teufelsberg emotionally, informatively and personally. At eight different stations, visitors are encouraged to reflect on specific questions and interact with their surroundings. This creates a deep connection to the place. Visitors delve into its past and are shown future possibilities for its use.

The exploratory nature of the audio walk inspired the creation of the Wall of Transformation. This permanent element encourages visitors to contribute their ideas, inspirations, and thoughts to a shared space. The dynamic platform not only enables the exchange of policy transformation concepts, but also functions as an intersectional think tank for innovative, practical approaches.

The transparency of the results from the Policy Transformation Lab creates a dynamic space for the exchange of forward-looking ideas. In addition, its inclusivity ensures that all stakeholders – from activists to scientists – are heard. The Lab is thus a place for all those who feel that politics and society need change and are willing to actively shape it.