Designing Place: Reimagining a Peripheral Town’s Narrative through Experience Design

This paper introduces the concept of designing place as a specific type of experience design by exploring its application in revitalizing a peripheral town facing economic, social, political, and demographic challenges. We illustrate how reimagining the narrative of a peripheral town can enhance the quality of life for residents, make it attractive to newcomers, and contribute to enduring urban and regional development. We argue that designing place extends beyond traditional urban planning and infrastructure development to incorporate a holistic approach to experience that integrates cognitive, emotional, behavioral, sensorial, and social factors. Designing place aims to create a sense of belonging and well-being, and thus contributes to the broader discourse on the role of design in fostering impactful transformations in a rapidly changing world. We contribute to the design literature by delineating the dimensions of designing place and offer practical implications for policymakers and community leaders seeking to reimagine peripheral towns.