Research Publications

van Leeuwen, L., Vaneycken, A. & Paterson, C. (2022). Democratic Design Through Play. Conjunctions, 9(2) 1-12. https://doi.org/10.2478/tjcp-2022-00012. >> read here

Vaneycken, A. (2020) Collectiveness as a Form of Autotheory. PARSE journal: Human, issue 12, Autumn. Gothenburg: Gothenburg University. >> read here


Vaneycken, A. (2020). Designing ‘for’ and ‘with’ ambiguity: actualising democratic processes in participatory design practices with children. [Doctoral dissertation, Gothenburg University] Gothenburg: ArtMonitor. >> read here


Vaneycken, A. (2017). Beyond the line: design for participation in the light of children’s culture. In D. Hamers, N. Bueno de Mesquita, A. Vaneycken, & J. Schoffelen (Eds.). Trading Places: practices of public participation in art and design research (pp. 67–80). Barcelona: dpr-barcelona. >> read here


Vaneycken, A. (2016). A playlist with Footnotes & Archive for Public Play. In H. Benesch, & J. Friberg (Eds.). Growing w/ design (pp. 35–53). Göteborg: HDK — Academy of Design and Crafts, Making Narratives 1. >> read here

Research Projects

2022-… — Open Public Space / Öppna offentliga rum
is a research project investigating how ‘openness’ principles in the participatory redesign of public space with citizens of all ages can contribute to the development of socially inclusive public spaces. The project builds on the urgency of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the goal of making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable (SDG 11) coupled with the related shortcoming that most public spaces today are not inviting or accessible for children. The project explores 1) the possibilities, functions, and limitations of ‘open participation’ where modular systems, loose parts, fluidity, and assemblage will be investigated in two real-life cases in Brussels and Gothenburg, in close collaboration with local stakeholders; and 2) new and supporting roles for municipalities in open processes. The project will result in 'open participation' guidelines and associated training for municipal officials, as well as an online open course accessible to design, architecture and planning practitioners; socially engaged community artists; activist and grassroots movements; and engaged citizens.

More information.


2015-2020 — Office for Public Play & Designing 'for' and 'with' Ambiguity: Actualising Democratic Processes in Participatory Design Practices with Children
The project engaged five early-stage art and design researchers (incl. myself) and one sociological researcher, for them to test and develop a specific approach (intervention, performative mapping, play, data mining, modelling in dialogue, and curating) on which practitioners and researchers in art and design and related fields can rely when working in public space projects and public issues in a participatory way.

More information via the Office for Public Play website.


2014-2017 — TRADERS Training Art and Design Researchers in Participation for Public Space
TRADERS is a European-funded research project within the FP7 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions ITN. The project engaged five early-stage art and design researchers (incl. myself) and one sociological researcher, for them to test and develop a specific approach (intervention, performative mapping, play, data mining, modelling in dialogue, and curating) on which practitioners and researchers in art and design and related fields can rely when working in public space projects and public issues in a participatory way.

More information via the TRADERS website.