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Living Lab research

Mistra SAMS carries out a number of intervention studies with users of accessibility and mobility services in "Living Labs". These "Living Labs" provide useful data for the ongoing research into user needs and preferences, as well as the sustainability impact of various services.

The design driven or interventionist Living Lab method has been developed by design researchers in Mistra SAMS. The Living Labs are based on interventions in people’s real lives and over time, often for several months. Such interventions could consist of changes designed to substantialize and try out possible futures, such as radically new services.

Through living labs, Mistra SAMS research projects explore possible future sustainable transport prototypes in close cooperation with citizens, market actors and public planners. Citizens living in the neighborhood become co-researchers, as they test how different accessibility and mobility solutions work for them in everyday life.

A way to explore innovative concepts and possible futures

In some cases, the interventions mainly trigger user reflection, thereby uncovering tacit norms or beliefs. In other cases, the interventions may require participants to experiment with changing their habits to adapt to the new situation. In either case, the purpose is not to evaluate or assess the effectiveness of a specific solution, but to explore innovative concepts and possible futures.

Find out more about each Living Lab via the navigation on the left.