When: 25^th November 2026 – 19.00–21.30

‍Where: Polit-Forum, Marktgasse 67, 3011 Bern (Käfigturm)

Designing Democracy? The role of design and transformations is explored through the lens of democracy and democratic design. The evening’s interactive format puts themes of design and transformations of and within democratic contexts to discussion. Through an exhibition, a debate, and an interactive session, visitors will be able to explore these themes as they materialize in diverse ways. The program questions the role of design for and in transformations, as well as the implicit view that transforming and transformations are somehow always inherently good and a desired outcome.

Narratives of crises and emergencies monopolise public debate and our attention, developing the feeling that there is no alternative to change, and that we need to change things fast, perhaps delegating important tasks to some saviour technology or all-powerful decision maker. But democratic transformations cannot be done top-down, they demand time to deal with ambiguity and meaningful friction that could enhance democratic values of slowness, plurality, dissent and inquiry. This event seeks to attune us to embrace those processes, in community.

‍In collaboration with Swiss Design Network-Symposium “Design in / for Transformations”. The event is open to the public and free of charge.

Towards more democratic and inclusive transformations‍

‍Program:

• 19.00: Welcome and Opening
• 19.15 – 20.30: 3 parallel events combining the following topics

• Exhibition: ‘Urgency Toolkit” by Alessandra Pandolfi, introduced by the designer
• Democracy Open Café: questions and provocations about design and democracy – with Paola Pierri and Vera Sacchetti
• Learning from a space in transformation: the transformation of the Käfigturm in Bern, from a prison to a place for celebrating democracy – with the Team at Polit-Forum.

Participants will be able to attend all events in small groups.

• 20.30: Closing of the event and Apéro

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