Learn about the way we use foresight to define future scenarios and new development paths for post-industrial cities.

1. Urban Workshop
The future of post-industrial cities
Portfolio
August 2018

2. In this portfolio you will find a brief overview of the key
foresigt projects we, Urban Workshop, have done in
Poland and abroad.
In brief, we are usually described as
THE company
you hire to engage local community in designing its future
scenarios and unlocking its hidden potential.
We do it with foresight.
We do it with board games.
We know our way around people.
And we are good people.
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3. Participatory foresight in
post-industrial settings
Foresight is a tool that allows various entities (from military, through corporations, to
municipalities) to explore their future scenarios. There is no single future. There are
many. The key for our partners is to understand them, analyse them in detail and use
these discoveries to their advantage.
The key to our method is that we blend trend analysis and horizon scanning with
extensive public consultations. Trends analysed without the local context can be
misleading, to say the least. That’s why we invite the local community to be our guides
to their future.
Learn about three of our foresights that were related to post-industrial transformation.
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4. Konin:
City in central Poland
Coal mining and steel industry. Last coal mine to be closed
in less than 10 years.
Goal: identifying new development paths
Foresight process:
> 4000 participants
6 months of consultations
Result:
4 future scenarios - the most optimistic one focusing on
sustainable development based on green energy production
and high level of public participation
Social and political impact:
Foresight results are now being used by local NGO in
partnership with the regional administration (wielkopolska)
to lobby for a special status (as a post-industrial region) in
the EU.
Konin 2050
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5. Rustavi:
City in south-eastern Georgia, 50 km away from the capital,
Tbilisi
Metallurgical industry. Most of the plants already closed.
Goal: prepare the newly established urban innovation lab
(part of the municipality) to engage with the local
community in co-designing their development agenda
Foresight process:
15 participants
3 months, 4 workshops and homework
Result:
Final report with four scenarios and a horizon scanning
base for the municipality.
Social and political impact:
The results are now being used as a platform for public
engagements and further elaboration of the Rustavi
development strategy.
Rustavi 2050
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6. Turek County:
County in central Poland
Coal mining industry. Last industrial facilities closed in January 2018.
Goal: revise current development trajectory and design a roadmap
for a just transition
Foresight process:
>500 participants
6 months of research and public consultations
Result (work in progress):
Final report with four scenarios and a horizon scanning base for the
municipality.
Expected social and political impact:
The results are now being used to create a strong cooperation
environment in the subregion and to present county’s interests and
vision in from of key EU institutions.
Turek County 2033
Work in progress
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7. In the proces of urban foresight we use a vast array of methods engaging local
community in visioning, horizon scanning and prioritising investments and reforms. To
get a sense of what we mean by “vast array”, read about our board game that we
used in the context of smart city investments in several Polish cities.
Variety of methods
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8. Imagine four tables with maximum eight players per board plus a moderator. Each
participant has an assigned budget, which he or she can invest in whichever smart
technology they choose. As a group, players at a table have 30% of the funds necessary to
invest in all of the available solutions.
The money can be spent to each player’s liking, but there’s one caveat – no one can
invest alone; you need to convince at least one other person at their table to chip in and
invest with you. There are three investment rounds.
Each table scores points for: generated savings, improvements in the quality of
life, sustainability, and so on. The table that spends the lowest amount of money, at
the same time bringing about the largest benefits to the local community wins.
Throughout the game, moderators gather information about local needs, preferences,
challenges and worries. They get to better understand the local context and generate spot
on recommendations for the municipality.
The game can then be played again with public administration officials, which creates an
opportunity for an in-depth discussion about both citizen’s needs and municipal plans.
Even one round of this sort provides inputs and viewpoints that can significantly enhance the
creation of local smart city strategy.
Smart city. The game.
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9. I’ll be happy to answer your questions!
Justyna Król
E: j.krol@pracowniamiejska.pl
M: 0048 691 130 686
Skype: justyna-krol
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