Jetske van Oosten is project leader of Make space for MooiNL. As a writer, programme maker and consultant, Van Oosten advocates a more integrated way of thinking and acting, across sectors and domains. Together with Tabo Goudswaard, she wrote the book Maakkracht, a new approach to complex issues. Filled with inspiring examples of artists and designers, the book shows the transformative power of makership. How everyone can take a role as ‘maker’ and get complex systems moving. Van Oosten works as a consultant for various clients in the public sector and is a popular speaker at meetings and conferences. Her other positions include core member of the Social Creative Council, member of the Council for Public Health & Society (RVS) and supervisor at care institution Aveleijn.
Maakruimte voor Mooi NL
Within the Maakruimte voor Mooi NL (Creating space for Mooi NL) learning community, public clients, designers and scientists join forces to explore the transformative power of design together and from different perspectives. Because more and more stakeholders believe in the power of design to achieve an integrated approach to spatial tasks. Yet, the transformative power of design thinking and doing is still underused in many places. The Make space for Mooi NL learning community is making a case for a better understanding of using imagination and creativity in complex spatial issues.
At the heart of the learning community are 36 core team members: frontrunners in the field of design thinking and doing. They believe in the transformative power of design: in the power of imagination to create attractive future perspectives, to awaken the desire for a better future and to dare to take concrete steps towards that new future together.
On 27 October, a joint exploration of the diversity of ways in which design can contribute to the major spatial change tasks of our time will be launched. To this end, 36 core team members of the Make Space for Mooi NL learning community will set to work over the next six months on three main themes of the Mooi NL programme:
- Sustainable agriculture & nature
- Energy & Circular economy
- Liveable cities & regions
Action programme spatial design (ARO)
The ‘Maakruimte learning community’ is part of the the Action programme spatial design (Actieprogramma Ruimtelijk Ontwerp (ARO)), which jointly promotes the power of design from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) and the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK). In terms of its contents, the learning community ties in with the concrete major spatial challenges and working methods of the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations’ Mooi NL programme, and in doing so, it monitors the practical applicability of the knowledge developed within the learning community.
The Netherlands is facing major spatial challenges, such as housing, water, agriculture, mobility, but also inclusiveness and health. Challenges that call for major changes. What will the Netherlands look like in the future? And more importantly: how do we make that attractive future image a reality?
