Design Policy Lab investigates the relationship between design and policymaking.

Active since 2016 within the Department of Design at Politecnico di Milano, the Design Policy Lab is a research unit operating in the field of "design for policy," dedicated to examining the practices and processes that constitute policymaking, namely the design and implementation of public policies, through the disciplinary and cultural perspective of design.

The activities of the Design Policy Lab include research projects, experimental public innovation practices, scientific dissemination, public engagement activities, and training.

The Design Policy Lab addresses contemporary challenges related to sustainability and digitalization in various policy areas and public services, helping its partners translate innovation goals into concrete and contextualized actions through innovative processes.

The activities of the DPL focus on:

• Innovative methods and partnerships for data-centric public innovation
• Development of citizen engagement frameworks, methodological and evaluative approaches
• Digital tools for stakeholder and beneficiary engagement (e.g., interactive prototypes)
• Human-centered methods and co-creation in public governance contexts
• Communication and dissemination of research

The DPL's investigation addresses hot topics on the contemporary public innovation agenda, focusing on the following research lines:

• Urban circular metabolisms for a sustainable and inclusive transition
• Food systems and circular product-service approaches
• Data-driven/data-centric approaches for policymaking
• Patient innovation in public care and prevention services
• Systemic design and policy entrepreneurship

In the field of training, the DPL aims to enhance the knowledge and capabilities of public actors, with a particular focus on the design capabilities of policymakers and public administration, making the latest research on "design for policy" and public innovation accessible through specialized formats.

The DPL is active in the main academic and professional networks dedicated to "design for policy."