Horizon Europe
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Gracing
Design Thinking Training & Knowledge Sharing
As part of the European GRACING project, 8D was invited as a domain expert to share its expertise in design, gamification, and co-creation. We led a workshop on design thinking and game design, co-authored an open-source curriculum and the best practice addendum, and hosted a study trip in Leeuwarden for fifteen Romanian heritage professionals. For 8D, this project was an opportunity to use design thinking as a connecting approach — across generations, sectors, and borders.
Objectives
1
Strengthen communication, collaboration, digital, and sustainability skills among heritage professionals in rural regions
2
Develop open-source educational materials for use in heritage education across Europe
3
Introduce the consortium to innovative heritage practices from the Friesland region
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Cultural heritage as a playground for innovation
The GRACING project, initiated by Harghita Cultural Center and Spektrum Educational Center, focused on heritage professionals in rural areas of Romania. These regions face challenges such as ageing populations, low youth engagement, and limited digital skills. At the same time, there is a growing need for innovative strategies to make cultural heritage more sustainable and future-proof.
Having previously worked with the Romanian partners, 8D was brought in to contribute to a blended learning course for heritage professionals and adult educators, drawing on our expertise in gamification, design thinking, and co-creation. This resulted in a learning programme where participants not only developed new skills, but also created tangible solutions for their local communities.
Our Role
8D took on multiple roles within GRACING — as an educational partner, facilitator, and co-editor:
- Workshop & keynote – Designer Bas Altenburg led an interactive workshop on design thinking and gamification, showing participants how to use game principles to make cultural heritage more engaging and accessible for new audiences. He also delivered a keynote at the closing conference, which attracted over 90 professionals and gained strong media attention.
- Study visit in Leeuwarden – Designer Jet hosted a multi-day study visit for fifteen Romanian heritage professionals in Friesland. During this visit, participants explored best practices from various cultural institutions and local initiatives in the region.
- Co-authoring educational materials – Designer Bas Altenburg co-edited both the online curriculum and the Good Practice Compendium of Sustainable Approaches to Cultural Heritage. All publications are freely available via culturalheritageproject.eu
Results
Although GRACING was classified as a Small-Scale Erasmus+ project, it had an impressive ripple effect. With a relatively modest budget, it not only achieved but exceeded its goals: 141 registered participants in the e-learning platform (instead of the planned 50), fifteen active participants in the full blended programme, five successful local pilot projects that brought heritage to life in playful and innovative ways, and a well-attended final conference. Participants described the experience as deeply valuable and transformative:
“It was a truly valuable, transformative learning experience. I learned about digital tools and sustainability, but also observed people’s attitudes, cultures, and expressions, and what captures young people’s attention today.”
The project’s impact was also recognised internationally: in 2024, GRACING was awarded the European Innovative Teaching Award.
For 8D, this project was an opportunity to apply design and play-based approaches as powerful tools to connect across generations, sectors, and borders. It was inspiring to see how professionals in the local pilots actively used insights from the workshop, the online curriculum, and the study trip. This experience confirmed the value of sharing knowledge — and the power of design thinking as both a mindset and a method.
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