Crystallized from 10 years of practical experience
For more than a decade, Timelab has been creating high-profile urban development and innovation processes. The Red Thread? Broad participation. Co-creation between residents, organizations and governance. And above all: lasting results on an economic, social, cultural and ecological level. The many projects resulted in a unique method with which we now also support policymakers and professionals in getting a diverse group of people to organize themselves. Timelab Academy is the ‘school’ that grew out of Timelab and that teaches you to understand the Timelab method and how to successfully apply it to your own project.
A pragmatic and playful approach
Projects with many stakeholders can be complex. So many ideas. Even more opinions. And did we mention expectations? The Timelab method transforms the complexity of your project into manageable, practical parts. She helps you solve problems and get the noses in one direction. By means of accessible tools such as a serious game, knowledge exchange is facilitated and cooperation is promoted among the people who participate. The whole is a practical, playful and effective approach that strengthens you as a policy officer or professional to shape a project or building together.
Constantly refined and improved
The Timelab method does not stand still. On the one hand, it develops further through progressive insight into the concrete projects that we help set up. On the other hand, the method is constantly linked back to theoretical and international models for ‘commons’ (the commonly used name for the tangible or intangible goods that are created and managed by a community according to their own agreements). All this makes the Timelab method not only solidly substantiated, but also very hands-on and effective.
Another question?
Do you have another nut you want to crack with Timelab Academy? Do you want a tool based on your own method? Or advice on a specific theme? Please contact Timelab Academy to discuss your question.
This is how we help you
Collaborating with Timelab Academy in a nutshell.
Practical handles
We don’t give you hollow tips, but useful tools that you can use right away. Afterwards you can continue completely autonomously and with confidence.
Sustainable management model
Together we work towards a solid management framework for your shared place or project. Not a one-day model, but a framework that helps you move forward in the long term.
Personal development
During the process, a lot of attention goes to your personal development as a initiator. This is how we help you become more resilient and more meaningful at work.
Physical tools
Physical facilitation tools have great added value in participation processes. Together we create your own set of tools that promote learning and keep the acquired knowledge alive.
Clear report
Afterwards you will receive an extensive report that provides insights into the process. This makes it possible to repeat the process and to anticipate pitfalls and opportunities.
Peer network
You get lifelong access to the learning network of Timelab Academy. This way you exchange experiences and best practices with participation coaches in Belgium and far beyond.
About our method
How do you create places or projects that belong to everyone? These are the basic principles of our approach.
Seven different patterns
The backbone of the Timelab method are seven themes or ‘patterns’. We have distilled these patterns from our own and global experiences with commons. We saw that everyone who works with commons always encounters the same challenges: how to organize yourself as a group, how to share resources, create an identity, make agreements, visualize processes, embrace an open end and increase your impact. We found a clever way to guide you through all the patterns and choose the most relevant ones together. Through workshops for which we translated management and coaching methods into playful and interactive working methods, we find the answers for your project.
Brighter every time
Our process is characterized by iterations with clear phases. The first sanding is rough, but layer by layer the interpretation of your project becomes clearer and we continue to polish together until a manageable model is created. We work towards the independence of your project and the empowerment of the participants. The entire process is aimed at being able to work independently with the lessons learned and making our support superfluous.
Guaranteed unique result
Timelab Academy maintains tight control over the process and continuously keeps a finger on the pulse. The process produces a unique result that comes from the contribution of the various participants, without predetermining the outcome. So no collaboration on paper, but real participation and co-creation.
Success projects
- NEST (Ghent) – We created a creative meeting place in a former city library.
- RSL Op Post (Roeselare) – We developed a shared space without stigma in an old postal building.
- Maakleerplek (Leuven) – We helped a group initiatives to unite and set up their own NGO to manage a shared space in the city.
Publications
‘Policy Analysis and Recommendations’ has laid the ground for a new vision on decision-making, one that takes culture as the foundation, inclusiveness and a better quality of life for all citizens. The Analysis brings together the outputs and the outcomes of the CCSC project, and shares the key learnings from the project partners. The Recommendations, based on these core principles, are made for the EU for the support and recognition of commons at the local and EU level. They advocate for the use of the commons as a policy framework that can reinforce the much-needed connection between the local and EU level.
Customers speak
“The need for collaboration, nationally and internationally, is urgent and calls for collaboration methods that are both meaningful and effective. Timelab’s research into ’the commons’ and how this way of collaborating can be applied in practice is highly relevant to our students and the art world, taking into account social, environmental and public values.”
Gwenoële Trapman – DAS Amsterdam
Contact us
Do you want to know more? Putting heads together? Are you curious how we can be of service to your organisation? Feel free to contact us for a no-obligation introduction via marieke@timelab.org or take part in our events!