We've seen first-hand how design and innovation can transform communities, cities, and regions. There is a new energy being applied to placemaking that takes into account the sense of place, the story, the brand, and the user experience rather than simply using a spreadsheet to calculate what should be done. Our approach to place-based innovation is about developing solutions that are tailored to the unique characteristics, challenges, and opportunities of specific locations. It's an approach that's gaining traction globally, and for good reason.
Why Place-based Innovation Matters
Traditional, one-size-fits-all approaches to development often fall short because they don't account for local nuances. Place-based innovation, on the other hand, leverages local knowledge, resources, and networks to create more effective and sustainable solutions. We have built tools to gather local knowledge, created processes that bring people together to be integrally involved in creating solutions, and we’ve applied technologies like custom GPTs to develop complex pictures of a region that otherwise would be prohibitively expensive.
The impact of this approach can be significant. According to the European Commission's 2021
Regional Innovation Scoreboard, regions implementing place-based innovation strategies have
experienced, on average, 2.3% higher annual GDP growth compared to regions without such
strategies. While this might seem like a small number, in terms of economic growth, it's
substantial and can translate to meaningful improvements in people's lives.
But here's the kicker: global investment in place-based innovation initiatives has grown from
$12 billion in 2015 to $47 billion in 2022 - a nearly 300% increase, according to McKinsey &
Company. If you're not already thinking about place-based innovation, you might be falling
behind.
Placed-based innovation initiatives / in Millions
Our Approach
Ecosystem Orchestration
We help bring together diverse stakeholders to create systems-wide collaboration. This is increasingly important - and increasingly challenging. The United Nations' 2022 World Cities Report notes that the number of formal multi-stakeholder partnerships in urban governance has increased by 63% globally between 2015 and 2022.
These partnerships are crucial for addressing complex challenges that no single entity can solve alone. But let's be honest: dealing with multiple stakeholders, each with their own goals and communication styles, can be a real pain. We've got experience navigating these complex environments and helping everyone work towards common goals.
Experience Design and Service Innovation
We create location-specific experiences and services that resonate with both visitors and residents. This has involved designing public spaces that reflect local materials and local design patterns, developing digital platforms that enhance civic engagement, or creating tourism experiences that are one of a kind destinations that revel in their local quirks.
Mostly, this is the fun part of making things: signage, maps, branded objects, interiors, furniture, neon, cycling infrastructure, lighting, streetscapes; we’ve been lucky enough to work on all of these and more.
Strategic Foresight and Scenario Planning
Building better places is hard, many of the conditions experienced are rooted in complex messy systems and long-term neglect. We work with organizations to navigate this complexity by creating clarity in the many possible outcomes. Often ideas and changes create unintended consequences, and mapping out a number of possible futures is the only way to anticipate the desired outcome.
Regenerative Business Model Innovation
Our nature is to consider the development of business models that create value for all stakeholders while regenerating natural and social capital. This approach helps places move beyond sustainability to become truly regenerative, fostering long-term prosperity and resilience.
Capital Stack Management
When it comes to funding, we have found that its mostly a matter of a clear plan and building a “capital stack” from many different sources of money. We work with grant writers, write our own grants, run crowdfunding campaigns, partner with banks, support investments, and leverage good old sweat equity. Whatever it takes to get it done, its just part of the process that needs to be considered and managed.
Impact Measurement and Learning Systems
We design and implement systems to measure the impact of this work and foster continuous learning. This ensures that these innovations contribute to ongoing local prosperity makes these efforts sustainable in the longer run.
Practical Tools for Action
We've found that people work best with practical tools they can engage with. That's why we've developed checklists, readiness guides, and assessment tools that help communities and organizations understand where they are in their place-based innovation journey and what steps they need to take next.
Leveraging Technology for Community Engagement
We use digital tools for community engagement and data synthesis, allowing us to gather input from a wide range of stakeholders and turn that input into actionable insights.
The Untapped Potential of Rural Innovation
While much of the conversation around innovation focuses on urban centers, we have a front-row seat to witness the potential for innovation in rural areas. There's often unexpected manufacturing capability and creative talent in these places. For young, ambitious people, rural areas can offer unique opportunities to make a significant impact.
Looking Ahead
As we continue to grapple with complex global challenges - from climate change to social inequality - the importance of place to solving some of the worlds biggest challenges can’t be underestimated. We're committed to staying at the forefront of this field, constantly refining our approaches and learning from each project we undertake.
We believe that by harnessing local knowledge and resources, and combining them with global insights and cutting-edge methodologies, we can help create more resilient, prosperous, and sustainable places. Whether you're a city planner, a regional development agency, or a business looking to make a positive impact in your community, we'd be glad to explore how place-based innovation might help you achieve your goals.
Remember, the key is to start. As we like to say, showing up and doing the work is really the solution. Let's get started.