Using the critical design approach for rethinking citizens’ emotional bond with urban spaces

Abstract

This paper focuses on the use of the critical design approach to analyze and understand the connection between human beings and urban spaces. Taking inspiration from the value that place and space have for people (e.g. for the construction of their individual identities) and from previous works concerning memories in the urban space experienced while cycling, we propose to undertake a design research where ambiguous and cognitively dissonant messages are delivered through a wearable device to encourage individuals to rethink and revalue their relations with space, consequently reshaping their personal identity.