The contribution of reflexive design to 'transitions in the making': a comparison of three cases

The multi-level perspective has proven to be a valuable framework to understand long-term trajectories of change. An important criticism on the multi-level perspective is that it has been largely based on retrospective studies focusing on macro processes and to a large extent neglecting the role of agency. This gap might be filled with the help of the concept of institutional entrepreneurship, referring to actors who initiate changes that contribute to transforming existing and creating new institutions. In this paper the concept of institutional entrepreneurship is used to analyze three projects that aim to contribute to a transition in animal production systems. All of these projects make use of the Reflexive Interactive Design (RIO) approach, but each of them has a different methodical set-up. It is examined what the effects of the three projects are in terms of novelty introduction, creation of a vision and coalition building: the last two being strategies for institutional entrepreneurship. These effects are related to the most essential differences in the methodical set-up. The analysis does not only lead to a better understanding of the three projects, but also gives some important clues for future redesign projects and other initiatives that try to stimulate transitions in the making.