tervezetten

Tervezetten is a Dutch neologism used in design and policy discourse to describe the practice of embedding planned objectives and value commitments into the early stages of a project, program, or system. The term appears in Dutch-language design journals and policy blogs and is discussed in the context of anticipatory governance and design thinking.

Etymology and form: It is formed from ter- (a prefix with various intensifying or distributing senses) and zetten (to place or set). The precise origin is unclear; it has been described as a blend signaling “setting things up in advance” or “fixing intentions from the outset.” As a relatively new term, its usage varies by author and context.

Definition and use: Tervezetten refers to a stance or practice in which goals, indicators, normative commitments, and accountability mechanisms are defined and linked to each phase of a project, enabling ongoing alignment between intended outcomes and decisions. It is discussed as both a tool for transparency and a potential source of rigidity, depending on execution. In urban planning, software development, and public policy, proponents argue it supports evaluability, while critics warn against over-constraining adaptability.

Examples: A project plan might apply tervezetten by tying design objectives to measurable indicators, decision gates, and post-implementation reviews from the outset.

See also: anticipatory governance, design thinking, value-based design.