Goal
The objective of this project was to explore how participation is and can be shaped within the context of youth hubs. The design outcome aimed to develop a participatory approach that encourages youth workers to collaborate with young people in shaping the design and programming of these hubs, ultimately empowering the youth.

Background
The municipality of Rotterdam is currently working on opening 33 youth hubs across the city. These hubs are designed as spaces where young people can meet, develop and grow. Youth workers, the main facilitators and guides in these hubs, aim to build trustful relationships with local youth and support them in their journey to adulthood. Besides offering fun activities and opportunities for skill development, hubs are aimed to be shaped both by and for young people to create a sense of ownership. While the importance of youth participation is widely acknowledged, the practical implementation of such participation is often unclear. This project provides insights into the challenges of embedding participation in youth hubs and offers a method for youth workers to collaborate with young people in the design and programming of these spaces.

Methods
To gain a deep understanding of the context, I visited the youth hubs that were already open (N = 12). I attended some participatory activities myself (N = 5) and conducted interviews with civil servants (N = 4), youth workers (N = 8), and “key figures” of youth hubs (i.e., young active visitors of youth hubs) (N = 4). Additionally, I spoke with youth on the streets of Rotterdam (N = 40) and later iteratively explored low-fidelity prototypes in the library (N = 20). I also hosted a workshop with stakeholders (N = 12) of the project to test the design proposal, after which I conducted a more thorough reflection on the method with a few participants of that same workshop (N = 3).

Results
Gaining or giving away responsibility is an adjustment for both youth and youth workers. The focus should not be on simply swapping roles but rather on collaboration and creating an environment where both parties feel comfortable to explore their roles within the hub.Youth hubs are dynamic spaces, with young people growing older, youth workers moving on and the city itself evolving. This makes them vibrant yet complex environments. Participation in such spaces is challenging because it must be tailored to a diverse range of individuals, requiring creativity and adaptability from youth workers who facilitate the process. Thinking along still appears to be seen as something serious, separate from fun activities where children and youth are expected to adapt to adult ways of working. Despite many creative efforts, there is still a lack of a methodological approach that allows youth to freely contribute their ideas in a collaborative setting and express themselves in their own way.

Conclusions
The Ideediner (Idea Dinner) is a method that transforms a formal meeting into a dining experience, using the dinner table as a space for discussing the design and programming of youth hubs. A blank tablecloth serves as the canvas, where participants “bring something to the table”—using the metaphor of dinner and food to represent their ideas or thoughts about the hub. Each step and course of the dinner is drawn on the tablecloth, accompanied by questions and tasks that help participants bring their ideas to life. Seats are swapped throughout the process to encourage collaboration and multiple forms of expression are welcome, allowing individuals to contribute without needing to be the most vocal in the room. This approach fosters a more inclusive environment, where ideas can be explored visually and interactively. The method results in a tangible, visual representation of collaboration, which can be revisited and reflected upon. A facilitator’s guide, including a script and tips, supports the method and enables its execution.

Tests and evaluative interviews revealed that the method is highly regarded for its potential applications both within youth hubs and beyond. Stakeholders expressed interest in using it in various contexts, such as facilitating team meetings and guiding sessions for a youth council within the municipality. Given that the method relies on strong facilitator skills, further research is needed to identify the essential skills required and to explore effective training methods. Additionally, it is important to conduct tests to evaluate the readability and applicability of the current guide. Piloting the method in real youth hub settings over an extended period will also provide valuable insights for refinement. While the method aims to create a collaborative environment for youth and workers to generate ideas, further research is necessary to ensure these ideas are put to action.