casuswerk

Casuswerk is a term used in design, pedagogy, and research to describe a method of working with real-world cases to develop understanding and practical solutions. The word combines Latin casus meaning case or event with Werk, the German for work or craft, and is used in several European contexts to denote a disciplined, case-centered practice rather than theory alone. In practice, casuswerk involves selecting representative cases, documenting their context, constraints, stakeholders, and outcomes, and applying structured analytic and creative processes to derive insights and artifacts. Common approaches include case documentation, problem framing, iterative prototyping, and reflective analysis, often within collaborative groups.

Casuswerk is employed across fields such as design education, software development, social work, and public policy. In education, it supports applied learning by connecting theory to concrete situations. In industry, it can structure case-driven development and knowledge capture. The approach emphasizes transferability of lessons across different cases and disciplines.

Because the term is not uniformly defined, its exact practices vary by institution and project. Some use casuswerk as a formal methodology with defined stages, while others refer to it as a philosophy of learning through case work. Proponents argue that casuswerk bridges theory and practice, enabling learners and professionals to foreground context, ethics, and impact. Critics caution that without clear standards it can become descriptive storytelling rather than rigorous analysis.