Researchers at Fachhochschule Dortmund develop ideas for sustainable participation
Purchased, used once, disposed of: Germany produces almost 600 kilograms of waste per person per year (EU average: 513 kg, as of 2022). In order to conserve resources, researchers from the Faculty of Design at Fachhochschule Dortmund are developing new strategies.
Together with the city of Essen and the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology (UMSICHT), they want to develop new "centers of sharing". "Our aim is to make sharing objects and resources as easy and attractive as possible - for everyone, not just for a specific social group," explains Kathrin Breitenbach. She is a research assistant at the Faculty of Design, where she is responsible for the "Centers of Sharing". The European Union and the state of NRW are funding the research as part of the overall CircularCities.NRW project with almost a quarter of a million euros.
It is supported by Prof. Martin Middelhauve, who teaches object and spatial design at Fachhochschule Dortmund. Design, he says, has always been a driving force for change and the basis for establishing something new. "We want to initiate an image change here - just as second-hand fashion is cool today, the centers of sharing should also be perceived as attractive, modern places," says Middelhauve.
Recording needs
The project investigates how existing sharing services - from libraries of things to repair cafés - work and why they have only reached limited groups of people so far. To this end, people's needs are scientifically recorded, new sharing options are designed and transferred into a neighborhood-based offering.
The design factor is central on many levels. "The spatial staging plays a key role in determining whether a sharing center is perceived as open, inviting and usable," emphasizes Kathrin Breitenbach. "So we ask ourselves: how can we create places where people enjoy spending time, exchanging ideas and easily borrowing or sharing things?" Communication is just as important, adds Martin Middelhauve. "People need to understand what happens there, how they can participate and what the benefits are for them."
The project is closely linked to teaching in the Faculty of Design. Students contribute their ideas, develop prototypes and test concepts in real environments. By the end of 2028, the first prototypes for centers of sharing are to be created in Essen, which can serve as a blueprint for other cities. "Our aim is to develop a system that is flexible, scalable and future-proof," emphasizes Kathrin Breitenbach.
The "Centers of Sharing" project is supported by the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia with funding from the European Regional Development Fund and the Just Transition Fund (JTF).