From Exhibition to Innovation : A Case Study on MAACQ Oase to Increase the Impact of Critical Design

The study focuses on a research-trough-design case with Fillip Studios and Omlab, practitioners of impact-oriented design collaborating on MAACQ Oase sculptures using biobased material to combat nitrogen acidification. The outcome of the case study is Birdbead, a parametric algorithm for nestboxes adaptable to various bird species, serving as a platform for testing MAACQ Oase sculptures. The Birdbead project highlights how SMEs in the cultural sector balance disruptive creativity with impact-oriented development. It was presented at Dutch Design Week '23 as a full-size prototype. The comparison of MAACQ Oase's design process with innovation management strategies reveals the importance of repeated exposure to impact-oriented design for achieving positive outcomes, pointing out a lack of self-reflective steps in artistic sector innovation models. An new framework is presented to structure impact-oriented design from the cultural and creative sector.