WIJ-model

In this thesis, the value of design is researched within the context of municipalities and how civil servants deal with complex problems. Loneliness amongst adolescents is such a complex problem, one that many are not aware of yet.

Of the youth between 12 and 18 years old in Delft, 42% states to feel lonely (GGD Haaglanden, 2016). This issue needs to be addressed by Team Youth of Gemeente Delft. However, the civil servants and their partners do not act upon it. This led to the following research question of this project: “Will a design-led approach enable the civil servants of Team Youth from Gemeente Delft to act upon the complex problem of loneliness amongst adolescents in Delft together with other relevant actors?”

Through interviews with different actors and literature research, a causal system map was created, which revealed six interconnected root causes that explain why loneliness amongst adolescents is not tackled in Delft.

When researching why Team Youth currently does not act upon this situation, it was found that the policy implementation process is not performed optimally. This process was researched, and four areas of improvement were found.

To create one structured process that focuses on dealing with complexity and creating mutual understanding, design principles that were found through research were translated into requirements for the design-led approach. A research through design process followed, in which a systemic co-design process was set up, performed and researched.

The research and evaluation of the performed process resulted in an adjusted list of requirements on which the final proposal is based: the WIJ-model (Welzijn Implementatie Jeugd model). This systemic co-design process enables civil servants to act upon complex problems during the policy implementation phase and implement well-being amongst the youth of Delft.

Link to the full thesis: https://repository.tudelft.nl/islandora/object/uuid%3Ab0df45e7-5a02-40aa-adaa-896309bf83fc?collection=education