Cultivating Place: Human-Centered Design for Connected and Resilient Local Ecosystems
Session Description
What if designing the future of a place started with the people who live there? This session shares the story of I-Connect, a place-based research and innovation project from Lancaster University, UK. This initiative was sparked by Eden Project Morecambe—a major environmental education attraction committed to bringing hope, investment, and regeneration to a coastal community facing significant socioeconomic challenges. Working with residents, businesses, civic organizations and policymakers, we used human-centered design to explore transport, connectivity and possible futures for the region. Join us for this story and strategy session to discover what can happen when we cultivate an ecosystem of support—and experience the visual, participatory and future-focused activities co-designed and tested through I-Connect. You won’t just hear about human-centered place-making; you’ll love it.
Â鶹ÊÓƵ Radka Newton
Radka Newton is Professor of Management Education and Innovation and Director of the at Lancaster University Management School. An internationally recognized leader in curriculum transformation and human-centered design, she champions participatory, research-informed approaches that create more inclusive and transformational learning experiences. She is chief editor of , an international anthology exploring the application of human-centered design in education. Radka is deeply committed to the Lancashire region, where her participatory action research brings together communities, policymakers, businesses and universities to address complex place-based challenges. She is Principal Investigator of , a research and innovation project using human-centered design to inform local policy, strengthen regional connections and demonstrate the civic role universities can play in cultivating more resilient and sustainable communities.