Data Challenge Youth & Culture
STATUS
Completed
DATE
2021 / 2024
PROJECT SCALE
REG
FUNDINGS
PON Metro REACT EU - L 'intelligenza artificiale e le nuove tecnologie per la trasformazione delle biblioteche Bo.6.6.1b -
"Progetto Data Challenge giovani e cultura". CUP: F31B21004110006-CIG: Z6A3A861F6
RESEARCH FACILITIES
DESCRIZIONE
The project “Data Challenge; Youth & Culture” explored how design can activate new relationships between young people, culture, and public libraries in Bologna. Developed by the Advanced Design Unit with the Municipality of Bologna – Library Department, it applied a data-informed co-design approach to rethink libraries as inclusive, participatory, and community-oriented spaces.
The project involved young citizens as co-designers, creating prototypes, facilitation tools, and evidence to guide cultural services toward more open and collaborative models. It positioned the library as a proximity infrastructure for civic engagement, cultural expression, and shared innovation.
IMPATTI E RISULTATI
Social: Active involvement of young people as co-designers rather than simple users; strengthening ties between generations and cultural institutions; creation of micro-communities of practice around the library as a shared space.
Cultural: Redefinition of the library as a dynamic cultural space open to diversity; introduction of a new imaginary of use centred on youth participation, expression, and self-narration.
Methodological: Experimentation with a replicable co-design model based on data; production of facilitation tools and devices transferable to other cultural institutions; activation of design and civic competences in participants.
Strategic / Policy: Generation of evidence useful for the governance of libraries and cultural services; promotion of the library as a proximity infrastructure and a site of cultural co-production.
+ LINKS & DOWNLOAD
https://zenodo.org/records/14961595
PUBBLICAZIONI
Ascari, M., Colitti, S., Formia, E., Gianfrate, V., & Mehmeti, L. (2023). Data Challenge. Re-thinking the library as a learning space to intersect youth, culture and gender diversity. In Life-Changing Design. Proceedings of the 10th Congress of the International Association of Societies in Design Research (IASDR 2023) (pp. 1–13). Design Research Society. https://dx.doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2023.471
Ascari, M., & Colitti, S. (2025). Dati, giovani e cultura: Il design come attivatore di nuove relazioni per le biblioteche di Bologna (Versione 3). Tatanka APS. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14961595