Design experimentation for Nature‐based Solutions: Towards a definition and taxonomy

The role of Design Experimentation has been increasingly recognized in dealing with uncertainties inherent in Nature-based Solutions and designing performative systems.The term Design Experimentation has been widely used in Design Research scholarship. However, there is no agreed common definition and criteria to clarify what it entails in terms of both epistemology and methodology. This paper aims to address the lack of definition, criteria, and methodological approaches for designing, operationalizing, assessing, and learning from Design Experiments for creating climate resilient Nature-based Solutions. Through a Delphi method, a Design Experimentation Taxonomy is developed based on conceptual and empirical understandings of the term. A three-round Delphi survey with 15 experts across 8 countries was undertaken to capture expert knowledge and perceptions of the role of Design Experiments, as well as key criteria and characteristics of Design Experiments. The findings informed the development of a Design Experimentation Taxonomy. Results show that Design Experiments should be purposive, bound to context and solutions-oriented, and have practical relevance while driven by a strong research agenda. They help linking intuitive approaches used in design, to scientific inquiry, which can lead to innovative and performative outcomes. In the quest for evidence-based approaches to integrate nature in our built environments, Design Experiments offer more agency to nature and natural processes in design. The developed taxonomy is the first step in establishing a reflexive, data-driven and performance-based practice, as well as advancing experimental agendas in landscape research and practices related to Nature-based Solutions.