Context
DA2030+ is a look into the future of the City of Science, Darmstadt. Where and how can the city and its neighbourhoods change? What are the limits to growth? And what conditions need to be created for Darmstadt to develop sustainably? To answer these and other questions, the city developed the “Masterplan DA2030+ // Darmstadt weiterdenken”, a shared vision and overall framework for the city’s future. The process was led by Urban Catalyst and centred on a dialogue-based, cooperative approach with intensive citizen participation, including citizen forums, public calls, and city actions.
Impact
The campaign brought the master planning process into public space and everyday life. Posters, flyers, newspaper features, banners, presentations, and 3D objects for live participation events made complex urban questions visible and accessible. More than 350 valuable places, initiatives, and everyday heroes showed what makes Darmstadt special, while citizen-led city actions demonstrated existing civic engagement and new ways of reimagining public space. The final results were brought together in a brochure that became a reference for this type of municipal publication in many German cities for years.
Design
The campaign covered a wide range of formats, from print and digital media to spatial and participatory elements. For the final publication, a special book design was developed that mirrored the content structure in four parts: three thematic fields and one conclusion. The brochure was produced as a Swiss brochure with open binding and a flap containing a folded poster of the final Masterplan. The inner pages combine an elegant and playful layout with numerous illustrations and maps, translating the participatory process into a clear, engaging visual narrative.