Chalmers Conferences, Transvaluation: Making the world matter

Beyond Best Practice. Re-valuing mindset and re-imagining research models in urban transformation
Lisa Babette Diedrich, Andrea Kahn, Gunilla Lindholm

Last modified: 2015-08-17

Abstract


”Beyond Best Practice” takes aim at accepted value-systems and conventionally silo-ed working methods grounding two types of practice activity: professional practice and academic practice. It uses a study of planning and design mindsets structuring urban transformation processes to raise methodological questions related to academic research and knowledge-production models. The authors claim “best practices”, typically applied, limit innovation and obscure site-specific values. They elaborate their position that urban transformation tasks demand a new form of relational practice by explicitly reflecting on their own transareal, team-based research activity. The paper outlines a framework of research operation: a process developed through “Collaborations”, a method based in “Conversations”, and a mindset deploying “Speculations” and design thinking. The authors demonstrate the application of this research model through two “Revaluations” and conclude by arguing the value of professional and academic practices that engage divergent points of view and acknowledge their own blindspots.

Keywords


urban transformation; best practice; design thinking; critical conversation

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