Qualities of Slow Communities

At the Slow Dialogue on Friday evening (21 Aug), the group unpacked some important issues critical to achieving Slow(er) communities. The difficult part isn't only to imagine projects, but also to ensure that these are appropriate and inspiring for the community at hand. Perhaps even more important is how to successfully engage members of that community as collaborators in any design idea?

Saskia Hoogendoorn provided great examples from the work of her organization, Stellig Communications, like Bakkie in de Buurt, a mobile coffee terrace that creates a temporary public space for neighbors to meet and share.

We decided to try to make a list of qualities that are vital to successful engagement in local communities. Here are three that we agreed on, and hopefully participants in the dialogue will add to the list!

1) LISTENING
Judith van den Boom says it's important to "Be quiet and then others will start talking!"

2) TAKING TIME
Designers should exercise mindfulness. People participate in different ways and at different rates.

3) GENEROSITY
Slow designing in the spirit of giving.

4) ??

5) ??


Please help us fill it in :)