Urban Now

The unORTe project aims to highlight ‘places’ that are unconsciously or consciously designed in a negative way. unORTe identifies exclusionary designs through mapping. These can be places, public products, dialogue spaces, mobility structures, infrastructure and media, because unORTe can be found everywhere.

The project draws attention to these injustices through powerful (legal) activist campaigns and dialogue with citizens in public discussions. Thanks to the participation of professional designers and co-responsible parties, it offers creative solutions to transform these unORTe into liveable solutions.

The interdisciplinary unORTe team (design, architecture, communication, digital, AI, photography/film, fine art, language) works in dialogue with citizens, companies, owners, groups (DDC, VDID, etc.), NGOs, administrations and operators to develop alternatives that are to be realised in a democratic process with the help of sponsors. Depending on complexity and financial viability, we plan the alternatives in individual projects and/or a joint project, either conceptually as prototypes or ready for use, to reference them, exhibit them (independently or in conjunction with other projects) and open them up for discussion – with the aim of implementing these solutions. Documentation of the content and processes serves the purpose of implementation and may also serve as a blueprint for similar projects.

The Urban Now Lab was initiated by members of the DDC and will be publicly active for the first time on 26 November 2025 as part of the World Design Capital Frankfurt RheinMain 2026. We would like to thank the Hessian Ministry of Economics, Energy, Transport, Housing and Rural Affairs for funding the project.