1. Design for togetherness (max. 80 c.) Design for social cohesion in the mining area of Genk – Belgium: a two years case study for the design students of the Mad Fac (max. 100 c.) Virginia Tassinari – Mad Fac Nik Baerten – Pantopicon, Mad Fac Design for togetherness design for social cohesion in the former mining area of Winterslag, Genk (Belgium): a design atelier for students of the Mad Fac (B) © Jolien Somers

2. © zemir.org © Belgin Özgünes © Miryam Outataouine context with the closure of the mines, the multicultural communities saw a common focal point in their daily lives fade. this led to a variety of challenges regarding the social fabric: e.g. problem-solving capacity, generational divide, interpersonal contact etc.

3. With the students of Mad Fac (product design and C-md) and with the contributions of experts, policy makers and inhabitants, we are looking in a co-creative process at how design can help facilitating social cohesion and coming to social sustainable solutions - in discovering again how to do again things together - in the four key different aspects energy-handcraft-food-waste © Vincent Olislagers © Widmer Berckmans © Chris Muller project product design and communication & multimedia design students of Mad Fac, immerse themselves in the neighbourhood, carry out design research and design various solutions to enhance social cohesion via a co-creative process. Four key topics energy-craft-food-waste serve as thematic starting points. Results are presented at a local evening market © Jannelien Verjans

4. For more info please visit: www.socialspaces.be design role facilitation of collaborative solution seeking, learn and show how design(ers) can facilitate positive change in the local social system and come to socially sustainable solutions.