Design for the Social City of tomorrow

Homeworks

1. Field Research: Mental (Cognitive) Mapping & Narrative Mapping of your „Kiez“ neighborhood.Take 5 photos of the official and your personal: Landmarks in your neighborhood.

2. Field Research: Silent mail to Places and Non-Places

I chose this photo as a non-place because walking in this empty space, without benches, without any kind of equipment, I felt a sense of emptiness. It is a large space, surrounded by a different floor, which invites you to enter in, but at the same time you cannot do anything but stand and look around. As if this place was standing still and waiting for someone to make it a more social and lived space. Near this space there is a beautiful church, with gardens and a park, where children gather on nice days to play. For this reason it seemed to me a contradiction that there was all this large unused space, with just a few trees. Someone uses chalks to colour the pavement, suggesting the function of a social space, a play area, which it is not yet.

3. Download the outdoor active app to digitally draw the tour.

https://www.outdooractive.com/de/ Use the open active app to go on a Smellwalk, a Soundwalk, or a multisensorycity walk through your neighborhood. Record the tours as digital drawings with the app. Document the sensory impressions.

Option A Based on your findings, create a happy map „for an app “to find your way. Not only theshortest or fastest, but also the most beautiful path through your area. Create a poster on the theme of your app with an advertising slogan. And upload your findings and the app on Miro

Option B 360 degree sensory walk us introduce.

4. What if…

What if you lived in Taipei or Potsdam in 1 year in 7 and in 15 years. How would the neighborhood develop? You work In tandems over the week.

Research data and forecasts about your neighborhood and thematic maps. Analyze the predictions.(look at input 5) Share what would you learn from this data. What conclusions do you draw …

How would it improve the urban space for the future?

5. Write a proposal on your „Draft for the Social City of Tomorrow“.

Berlin has become world famous as a contemporary art hotspot. No city in the world is home to so many artists: more than 5,000 visual artists from around the world are based here, according to statistics compiled by city authorities. Berlin is the city where contemporary art is produced. The density of galleries is also very high: there are more than 400 of them. These are the results of various researches and articles on German, Italian and American newspapers, etc. Yet not all galleries find it so easy to sustain themselves. They produce here but sell elsewhere. Over the past years, a number of small and mid-level galleries in the city have closed or set up shop elsewhere. There are several reasons for this, including rents going up and studios becoming more and more expensive for artists. Many art world insiders blame Berlin’s policymakers, however, for failing to develop a solid institutional infrastructure for contemporary art, including securing real estate for its display. In addition to these official data, through my small experience here in Berlin, I have been able to notice, walking past the small art galleries, that they are almost always empty, although the artworks inside are very interesting and well done. For this reason, art remains closed in the galleries and there is no incentive, neither economic nor social, to shine the spotlight on the problem by trying to extend the art trade and the visibility of artists within Berlin's neighborhoods. The cause of the problem is probably a lack of interest in art, little advertisement and the unattractiveness of art galleries among ordinary people. It is really a shame that this happens in the European capital of contemporary art, where so many artists live and work. It is clear that not everyone is interested in art, especially in small galleries of emerging artists. At the same time, I think that living surrounded by art and making sure it is effectively publicized could improve both the well-being of the neighborhood and the artists, who would be encouraged not to leave the city. After having analyzed the official data and those I collected through my experience in Berlin, having considered the various exercises carried out in this course (such as the mind map and the “what if” exercise), together with my particular sensitivity to art, I asked myself how I could do something to improve the current situation and define the “Draft for the Social City of Tomorrow”. I believe that, especially in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, the world is moving in an increasingly digital direction. It would be interesting to use new technologies to bring art to life, not only inside galleries, but also outdoors, in all of Berlin's neighborhoods. My goal is to increase interest in art and culture, making it affordable for everyone and giving people the opportunity to live through art within the neighborhood, publicizing all the small galleries and all the places of interst in the district . It would be interesting to create an online platform linking artists and other people from the same neighborhood, with the aim of publicizing the culture places and the art galleries, making them known. The goal is to spread art throughout the neighborhood. So, QR codes (perhaps designed by the artists themselves) could be installed at strategic points in the city. By framing the QR code, you can enojy a new way of experiencing culture, creating a real sensory experience. In this way, the aim would be not only to publicize places, but also to create meeting points where people can get together and enjoy a shared experience. Having spots scattered around the city would also contribute to a regeneration of some places, which become meeting places. To sum up, my Draft for the Social City of Tomorrow is to create a new way of experiencing culture, making the city itself a continuous work of art and a social place for the exchange of ideas and experiences, helping to increase everyone's awareness of culture and history.

6. Pecha Kucha Presentation

7. Final presentation 27/06/2022

Reflections and Feedback mini protocolls

UNIT 1 REFLECTION

The topics of this unit gave me the basic knowledge to deal with the problem of social design, not only from a theoretical point of view, but also from a practical one, thanks to key words, examples, videos, etc. The first exercise was also very useful. For the first time after a month in Berlin, I observed my neighborhood in a different way, focusing on social spaces, landmarks, personal and non-personal, and places that attract my attention. Also, the different sources, the different points of view of different authors, helped me to get a complete overview of the problem. As an architecture graduate, it was very straightforward for me to understand the various urban fabrics and textures, the issues related to the city and social spaces. Definitely, thanks to this lesson, I was able to experience a less technical and more „artistic“ approach, more related to living the city considering mainly the social side. I really appreciated the various examples that were given, which helped me to understand what social space means and how it can be interpreted in different ways. Above all, it was useful to understand how actions of different types and nature can contribute to creating a social space in the same way, improving the liveability of an environment. At the moment all the basic concepts are quite clear, I have not found particular difficulties in learning. The intercultural exchange was really useful to understand how a social space can be interpreted differently depending on place and culture. In my opinion, the fact of being in contact with different cultures is really important to be able to understand different aspects of a problem and to have a broader view as a consequence. My international experience is really useful and educational. Understanding how they approach the problem here in Germany, grasping the similarities and differences with Italy, will certainly help me not only for the output of this exam, but also for personal maturation. Personally, what I take away for myself, are the various examples, which for me are the most immediate and intelligent way of understanding the problem and entering into a project. It is certainly useful to have a number of books and sources from which to study the subject in depth (I really appreciated 'the image of the city'). Although many topics are not new to me, because i have already studied them in previous courses, I believe that the same topics, expressed considering a non-architectural point of view, help to enrich me.

UNIT 2 REFLECTION

Understanding what infrastructures really are and how they govern everyday life is fundamental to getting to know a public space and understanding how it creates social phenomena. This unit (with which I am particularly familiar, as I have a degree in architecture) allowed me to get to the heart of the topic and make a deeper reflection on the use of infrastructures. The example of the Copenhagen Nørreport Station was particularly stimulating. The idea of starting a project by studying people's paths is really smart. I think the motto 'form follows people' is very apt to describe what a planner, whether architect or designer, should always follow when thinking about design. How many times do we consider a project beautiful, exciting, but at the end we realize that it is standing there like a sculpture that has to be observed? How often do we forget the fundamental part that every project should have? People. Projects are for people and born of people. For this reason, in any kind of action, even more so if it concerns a public space, we should start from people’s needs and expectations. It was important for me to understand how many types of infrastructures exist and how they influence the perception of spaces and everyday life, even if often unconsciously. Today, even more than yesterday, there is a need for infrastructures that take into account the environment, sustainability and social aspects, making the city a 'Smart City'. Certainly, what I appreciated most about the lecture was a comprehensive look at what infrastructure is and what it means for people. This made me realize even more how much the meaning of infrastructure has changed today and this is moving towards a direction that is increasingly green, sustainable and socially oriented. The cultural exchange with the NTUT students was also very stimulating. We had the opportunity to explain our neighborhood through our own eyes by giving a subjective and personal view of it. It was also nice to see new realities so different from our own through the eyes of a person who lives them. It was a nice discovery to see how three people used the Mental Map exercise in a different way considering mine, giving a different personal input. This is certainly an incentive for me to do better and better and to expand my knowledge more and more. Finally, I think this kind of approach to urban space is not only stimulating and complete, but also educational and smart.

UNIT 3 REFLECTION

This unit was really interesting because it helped me to understand the meaning of the invisible city. The city is not just a space made of streets, buildings, greenery, etc., but it is all about perception, experience and emotions. It was exciting to understand how all the senses participate in the creation of the personal image of the city and how these influences the perception of it. From these inputs I definitely understood a new way of looking at the city, not only with my eyes but with all my senses. The examples given were perfect for fully understanding what is meant by a sensory walk. I particularly appreciated the example of Urban Audio, which gave me a new perspective on urban space and made me understand how even noise can be transformed into something positive and can contribute to creating a sensory experience within the city. The example of the Happy Map App made me reflect on the fact that we often unconsciously take the same route to reach a place because that route evokes a feeling of wellbeing or, instead, we avoid another one because it gives us a sense of insecurity and fear. For this reason, we choose different routes according to the feelings we want to perceive at that moment, according to our mood. I believe that the image of a city lies in the sensory perception we have of it, and now, thanks to this input, I’m able to discover new sides of the neighborhood I live in. The cultural exchange with students from the other side of the world also contributes from week to week to enrich my vision of urban space. It was surprising to see how different people attribute the notion of „non-place“ to different places, according to their different perception of the place, according to their culture and what they are used to see in their city. It is always interesting to collaborate with people from different cultures, with a vision different from mine. As an exchange student, I have the double opportunity to live in a country very different from my own and, at the same time, to be in contact with students who live in an even more different country. This continually allows me to have different yardsticks to compare and broaden my view of the city. It was also interesting the input on VR, which allows us to have a dynamic spatial perception and fast learning of the city. This is perhaps one of the most innovative ways of experiencing the city. To sum up, this lesson definitely broadened my knowledge of urban space as a sensory perception and made me realize how subjectivity is more important than objectivity, because it is the true meaning of the city.

UNIT 4 REFLECTION

What I appreciated most about this Unit was the continuous interaction between students. Lesson after lesson, I am becoming more and more aware of how important is understanding the cultural differences and making comparisons, considering that I have to propose a project in the near future that is a synthesis of all the topics covered. Amongst the different topics, it was very interesting to find out more about the different ways of collecting data. The example that most caught my attention was 'CF. City Flows', not only for its content and research, but also for the method of visualization and graphical translation of the data. I think it is a very successful project, as you have the possibility to compare different cities and find similarities and differences, and at the same time it manages to help citizens moving around. I think this is the sense of the course and the project we should develop, where it is essential both to make comparisons and to find a solution that starts from people and is for people. The discussion about data collection was very stimulating. All three of us agreed that the main limitation of giving away our own data or using other people's data is the lack of awareness and the misinformation. Collecting data may or may not be a good opportunity depending on the uses. It is certainly useful for humanitarian purposes, like the given example. The second part of the lesson was very stimulating. Being able to talk to others about their sensory walks made me realize once again how many different approaches to a problem can be used. I really appreciated Kaline's sensory walk, which I found very original and well thought out. It made me think about many other topics that could be chosen to create a sensory walk. The intercultural exchange in the group is always very useful to open my mind and always have new ideas. In particular, it was very interesting to analyses the example of Chung Sheng Chen Sight Difference Inclusive Playground Equipment together with Zoe. We both realized that in our countries (Italy and Korea) the social spaces dedicated to playgrounds are very different and we focused on the common aspects, too. For both of us, it was interesting how this project could unite different generations that are usually separated in Italy, as well as in Korea. This shows the different perceptions of a social space and the different experiences of it. I think it’s really important to consider, within a project, the cultural exchange between people, between different generations, different religions etc. This could be a good starting point for the development of an effective idea. To sum up, the continuous cultural exchange together with the examples proposed contributed not only to increase my knowledge, but also to think about a future idea, in order to improve the city’s social spaces or to create new ones.

UNIT 5 REFLECTION

This unit was very interesting as, compared to the others, there were more moments of discussion and dialogue on different topics and case studies. The continuous exchange of ideas, not only during the lecture, but throughout the week for the group work, was really stimulating in order to revise and grow my idea. The ideas of others offered me new insights and perspectives, just as I realized that my idea influenced those of others. This was evident when we presented the „what if?“ exercise. Although we did not have a lot of time for discussion, the small moments of dialogue between us helped to create a common thread in our proposals. Although we had not chosen a common topic, in the end each idea influenced the other's a little, resulting in a connection between them all. The fact that my idea could also influence the others was a pleasant discovery and made me even more aware of the importance of continuous intercultural exchange, not only for me, but also for all the group. This exchange of ideas, together with the continuous exercises and the proposed case studies, make it easier and easier to arrive at a possible idea for the social city of tomorrow. In this regard, it was very interesting to discuss together with Ginevra and Roosa about an urban design for a public space in Holmesglen. It is always surprising to understand how architecture, art and design contribute to completely transforming a space and the experience of that space itself, through simple and effective urban regeneration actions. Thus, a neglected environment is transformed into a community meeting place to encourage interaction, art, sport, etc. and to reduce the crime rate. Along with all these insights, it was important for me to have a guideline to be able to arrive at an effective and understandable draft of my future idea. Understanding what questions to ask myself, together with the evaluation criteria, helped me to assess whether my possible idea could be valid and effective, or it has some aspects to be improved. I believe it is fundamental to take into account not only the human and social value, but also the economic and technological feasibility of the project. I already had some ideas that I could propose, but I wasn't sure how to present them and according to which parameters present them. In this regard, the last „Problem Definition“ exercise helped me to gain clarity to better analyze the problem from which my possible solution derived and to ask myself the right questions in order to proceed with the actual drafting of my project proposal. This was a good starting point and it will certainly simplify the exposition of my idea, following all the parameters. I now believe, through the different units, that I am ready to start on this new project path and that I have the knowledge and insights to always be able to improve my idea. Additionally, the feedback from the group will certainly be indispensable in order to have a complete vision and to increase my design solution more and more.

FEEDBACK-MINIPROTOCOLL UNIT 6

Since I could not attend the seminar this week and I’m really busy with a workshop at university every day, I did not get much feedback on my proposal for the “Social City of Tomorrow”. In spite of this, I had the opportunity and luck to discuss with my roommate Giulia, who offered me many insights and gave me some useful suggestions regarding my project.

1. That was great

Giulia liked my idea very much as, living in the same neighborhood, she too could see that the neighborhood is full of art galleries and small artists and that, at the same time, these are always empty and the work of many talented artists is often not valued and badly publicized. She therefore very much liked my idea of taking art out of the galleries and creating an online platform that connects artists and citizens, with the aim of publicizing the artworks and providing a common experience within the neighborhood. She found interesting my idea of turning art exclusive to galleries into art for everyone, into a real event for the citizenship.

2. This could be better

She advised me to revise some aspects of my project idea, so that I could explain it better and make it more effective, and to make a selection of places where I could have this experience and create meeting places. In addition, I had not considered that my solution might not be connected to the galleries considered as physical places, as Giulia pointed out to me, so it might be interesting to find a way to physically connect the experience spread within the neighborhood with the galleries as well, in order to revive them in a more modern sense.

3. They did not understand

According to Giulia, it was not very clear how I intended for citizens to have an experience, how the paintings would appear, whether I had thought of animations, whether they would be still or bring something to life in the neighborhood, and how this experience could really connect people and create social spaces. These considerations made me think more about the thoughts I had and helped me gain some clarity and make my idea more practical.

4. They took with them

Certainly, the thing that Giulia appreciated most about my design solution was my willingness to be interested not only in the problem of small art galleries in Berlin, but also and above all the idea of choosing spaces that can be considered as “non-places” where this experience can take place. In this way you would have two combined actions that would solve both the two problems, creating social spaces in spaces that are now empty and without function.

5. That came up short

According to Giulia, my idea needed an evaluation of the means to be used and the actual way to connect artists. She advised me to do some research to see if there is already a network connecting emerging and non-emerging artists and if there are any gallery promotion actions in place. In this way I can better understand in which direction I should move and how to develop my idea.

FEEDBACK-MINIPROTOCOLL UNIT 7

The Pecha Kucha format allowed me to better reflect on my idea, put it in order and focus on the main concepts to be presented. The fact that I had to summarize everything in ten effective pictures and talk about each one no longer than twenty seconds allowed me to better synthesize my idea and understand which parts were superfluous.

1. That was great

I definitely managed to stay within the timeframe and put forward everything I had in mind by synthesizing it as best I could. The idea was clear, I think everyone more or less understood. The photos I chose were just right to expose what I had to say. What they liked about my idea was the proposed problem, which is very topical in Berlin and the fact that I was interested in the artistic side of the city and in the small realities of neighborhood gallery owners.

2. This could be better

There were things to work on better and think about more. My idea was probably too broad and not straightforward enough, which meant that I did not focus as much on the more practical aspects of the project. Leonie made me think about the fact that using QR codes on the ground might not be a good idea as these fade away with the weather and walking on them. In this regard, I think I need to test how long these designs last, how often they need to be redone and how to involve people in this process. These questions also made me think about the possibility of making my idea into something temporary, going along with the natural durability of QR codes drawn in outdoor locations.

3. They did not understand

There are still several things to improve in my project. Firstly, I think it was not clear what target group I wanted to refer to. As Monika rightly pointed out to me, not everyone has a phone and knows how QR codes really work. That is the reason why it is essential to define a target audience, that I had put on the back burner and which is now precisely the first step in order to proceed. Thinking about what is the target I would to refer will allow me to better define my idea, starting with the user and his needs. Moreover, my idea was probably unclear and too general. Certainly, the field I have chosen is quite complicated, especially considering that I have only lived in Berlin for a few months and do not know all the dynamics.

4. They took with them

I think what was most appreciated about my idea was that it combined a social issue with a cultural one, trying to define a problem and a possible need within my neighborhood. In addition, creating an event that contributes to the regeneration of urban places without function is part of my strategy to build the city of the future.

5. That came up short

The feedback from others helped me to realize that in order to make my idea more effective and practical, further field research and analysis was needed, conducting interviews, studying the history of the neighborhood, understanding the actions and associations that already exist in this field.

FEEDBACK-MINIPROTOCOLL UNIT 8-9

In the single consultations in June with Monika and Ryan, I had the opportunity to discuss my project and see what its future development might be. The peer reviews with the other students were also very stimulating, as I had the opportunity to present my idea to the others, listen to theirs and get further feedback.

1. That was great

Through continuous comparisons during the two weeks of June, I realized that more people appreciated my idea of choosing art and history as the theme for the social city of the future and, above all, finding a way to enhance it. In a city like Berlin, which is full of art and artists, I think it is right not to neglect this aspect and to revive the identity of each neighborhood. Monika and the guys I had the chance to talk to (especially Roosa and Memo) really liked my idea of bringing to light the history of the neighborhood where I live in Berlin (Charlottenburg) and in particular to revive the artistic atmosphere of Savigny Platz.

2. This could be better

Talking with others, I realized that I had many ideas in my head, but nothing practical yet. I couldn't make a selection of ideas and figure out which direction to go in. I was advised to do further research and surveys in the field, directly interviewing people walking around Savigny Platz, this would help me to better define not only my idea, but also the target audience to refer to. Memo in particular advised me to propose a route that would bring the history of the neighborhood to life and, talking with Monika afterwards, we agreed on making this route subjective, linked more to people's experience and memory of the place, than to the place itself.

3. They did not understand

It was not clear what medium I should use to realize my project, whether it should be a physical exhibition, something digital or both. Just as I was not yet clear about the contents to be developed and the experience I wanted to give to the user of my future project. I still had a lot of things to define, so it was really useful to have different feedbacks and understand what could be more interesting to choose.

4. They took with them

They certainly appreciated the fact that I had many ideas and my desire to put them into practice, as well as the fact that I believe it was visible that I have a passion in art and culture I would like to work in more depth on these topics, also in the future. They also found interesting the idea of making a cultural experience something invisible and digital (since it is a project for the city of the future).

5. That came up short

Talking with Monika, I realized that there were several lacks in my idea, at least until that moment. It was necessary for me to do more in-depth research and, above all, to experience firsthand the experience I wanted to create at Savigny Platz, trying to understand what people needed, how many knew the history of the place and if they were really interested in knowing it.

FEEDBACK-MINIPROTOCOLL UNIT 10

The final presentation was the last chance to get some feedback from Monika, Ryan and the other guys. It was a challenge to be able to present everything I had in mind in a few slides and only five minutes, but it was useful to understand which aspects to focus on and which were superfluous.

1. That was great

My presentation was very much appreciated, I received several positive feedbacks not only for the idea, but also for how it was presented. Furthermore, the use of questionnaires helped me to better define the need and the target and to narrow down my idea. Some guys, including Memo, have also written positive comments. Ryan also found interesting my idea of having an online platform where places of interest in the city of Berlin were marked.

2. This could be better

I definitely have to improve the way I present the presentations, in some places I realized that I spoke too fast and probably some parts of my project were not explained well. Regarding my idea, I was advised to propose case studies that could help in understanding the project, in understanding how my platform works and what experience I wanted to give to the user specifically.

3. They did not understand

Probably, they did not understand the use of QR code and the data I intend to collect in the app I want to create. I should clarify what kind of experience I want to share, the fact that it is something sensorial and linked to people's memory, instead of a history book where you can search for information and objective data.

4. They took with them

The thing that was most appreciated is the desire to include the subjectivity and experiences of people in my sensory journey. In this way, a new experience is created, which is social and cultural at the same time, where people are interconnected and learn through other people, through their knowledge, their feelings about the place, the noises they have decided to share and that that they could see in that moment. This is probably the most interesting part of the whole project.

5. That came up short

I think my presentation was a good starting point to build a project that can really exist. What is missing is only a few reflections on the economic side, on the necessary authorizations for QR-codes and to better understand with which associations and institutions it is necessary to collaborate to make this project grow more and more.

Learning Diary

When I started this course, I had no expectations, I had no idea what the study method was like at this university, what the objectives were and what we should eventually develop. Certainly, in choosing the course, I was attracted by the proposed theme and my curiosity to fully understand what Social Design was and how I, as a designer of the future, could contribute. Understanding how the method used for learning was very different from the Italian one was a pleasant discovery. In Italy we are used to conducting a short period of research on the subject and then dedicating entire months to the project. Here, this process was reversed. Initially it was strange for me to get into this mindset, like anything you are not used to, but then I realized how fundamental the whole first phase of the course was and how much easier it was then to arrive at a project solution having been guided from the beginning through lectures, exercises, analysis of case studies, and exchanges of ideas with the other students. What I have definitely learnt is to look around me in a different way. Through the search for non-places, mental maps, sensory walks, I realized how all the senses and all the perceptions we have participate in the process of getting to know a place. This was very important for me, because it helped me to better understand a place I did not know, where I had only lived for a few months. I was able, thanks to this learning method, to analyze existing problems in a simple way, ask myself questions and find solutions. So, while I had considerable difficulty in understanding a place that did not belong to me, I believe, at the end of these months, I have succeeded in my goal. I admit that it was not easy to define my solution for the social city of the future. I did a lot of research, especially in the field of art and history (the subject of my project). Thanks to these, I was able to understand how the art world works in Germany, what the problems are and what and how many initiatives there are. I was then able to compare this with the very different art environment in Italy. It was really interesting and I discovered several things I did not know. (At the end of the learning diary I attach links to my research). I had a lot of ideas in mind, I was very clear about what is meant by social design, but I could not design something concrete. I believe that in this phase, the exchange with the professors and among us students was fundamental in arriving at a final idea, not only to get suggestions, but also to confront our ideas and understand how we had developed the theme in a different way. As a junior architect, I would never have thought of making something immaterial, as I am used to building with materials. The international experience and being able to compare myself with people from different universities opened my mind. I was therefore able to design something digital and at the same time artistic, probably inspired by the fact that I was in contact, during the course, with people miles away from me, with a culture and knowledge completely different from my own. Hence the need to include people's subjectivity in my design, aware that everyone has a different view of the world. After this course, I feel even more open to international experiences and cultural exchange as I believe it is fundamental for not only professional, but also and above all personal growth.

https://nftberlin.org/

https://nftclub.berlin/

https://www.bbk-berlin.de/en

https://www.gallery-weekend-berlin.de/journal/gallery-tour-2022-charlottenburg/

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/12/arts/design/berlin-art-scene.html

https://news.artnet.com/market/exile-gallery-1318580

https://st.ilsole24ore.com/art/arteconomy/2012-05-25/arte-berlino-si-produce-ma-non-si-vende-citta-investe-quasi-13-milioni-euro-132109.shtml?uuid=AbiIRCiF&refresh_ce=1

https://www.studiomaccagno.it/blog/

https://www.federculture.it/siracusa-capitale-italiana-della-cultura-2024-presentato-il-logo-con-qr-code/

Personal Reflection

During this course, I feel I have acquired various knowledge and skills. I certainly learnt how important a good research phase is before defining a project and how to do research in an intelligent and mind-expanding way. I was able to fully understand the meaning of Social Design and how it can have many different facets. Analyzing problems and case studies by always comparing myself with others is a method that I really appreciated. I have been used to working in a group for years, but this continuous exchange of ideas had never happened to me before, so I can undoubtedly say that, thanks to this course, I have even more strengthened my ability to work in group and deal with different people, with different cultures, who speak different languages. If at first communication was not easy (also because of the different time zones), in the end we always managed to take everything positive from this experience. Precisely because of this, I feel I have broadened my organizational skills and my flexibility. As Erasmus student, I had already left with the desire to have an intercultural experience, get to know a new environment and to experience a new way of learning. This is one of the reasons that led me to choose this course specifically. I was able, thanks to this, to further develop my ability to understand new cultures and mentalities, I was able to see different approaches to problems and, what was particularly enriching, I was fortunate to be able to get feedback from completely different people, which helped to open my mind. In this sense, I was able to fully live this international experience, not only with NTUT students, but also with students from the University of Potsdam, as I am not from Germany. Having reached the end of this course, I can consider myself satisfied with what I learnt, as well as with the results I managed to achieve, which many times exceeded my initial expectations. I am also satisfied with the project I developed, as it concerns a topic I am passionate about and I believe it is important for every person to consider it in the vision of the social city of the future.