The theme of this 4th episode of the Commoning Design & Designing Commons podcast is urban commons, and together with Anna Seravalli we discuss co-designing and commoning in the context of urban environments. The city space, and especially public space, is a crucial setting for our social life and sustainable living. During the last decade the framework of the “urban commons” has gained popularity as a way to address and tackle contemporary urban challenges varying from urban housing to urban inequality, but also as a matter of responding to the challenge of how to support and maintain public welfare in face of economic cuts, and shrinking economic resources within the public sector.

Anna Seravalli works as a senior lecturer and design researcher at The School of Arts and Communication Malmö University. Anna has a background as a product and service designer and holds a PhD in Design and Social Innovation. In her work she engages with citizens, NGO, civil servants and local entrepreneurs in: developing concrete initiatives to foster sustainable transitions within NGOs and public sector organizations.