influences for co-design
Maketools and the Convivial Toolbox
MakeTools are honestly co-design’s secret sause. Today maketools typically combine physical objects or digital equivalents that create conditions for a new generative conversation. These generative research techniques spark reflection and ideally (when made well) help anyone – regardless of background…
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Cooperative design or “Scandinavian” for short
Cooperative design, originating in the 1970s in Norway, marked the collaborative effort between designers and researchers to address changing workplace dynamics due to technology. It emphasizes participation as vital for democracy and learning. Key figures and projects illustrate its journey,…
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Co-design or faux design?
I fell into “Co-design or faux design” back in 2018 when nervously presenting to a conference to service designers and researchers who where all apparently co-designing everything. And to put salt on the wound, I also have had a great…
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Collaborative inquiry and Participatory Action Research (PAR)
Collaborative inquiry, PAR and social engagement do not come from the world of design, but from sociology, community development, feminist studies and organisational development. They are a series of approaches to research that began emerging in the late 1970’s (at…
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Design for all
Design for All (DfA) emphasises creating accessible products and services for everyone, regardless of age or disability. Influential activists like Jim Charlton and Judy Heumann promoted inclusive design, urging individual participation. Incorporating lived experience in DfA fosters equitable solutions, making…
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Human-centred design (HCD) and empathic design
Cooperative design, originating in the 1970s in Norway, marked the collaborative effort between designers and researchers to address changing workplace dynamics due to technology. It emphasizes participation as vital for democracy and learning. Key figures and projects illustrate its journey,…
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Design Activism and Design Justice
…if you don’t recognize that design can also be strategic you cannot imagine that design can play an important role in triggering, supporting and scaling-up social innovation. Ezio Manzini Democratising design is a political act. Co-design done well has profound impact…
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Where did co‑design come from?
This article provides a comprehensive overview of co-design, covering its origins, influences, and toolkit. It explores cooperative design, collaborative inquiry, influences like Design for All and Human-Centred Design, and the concept of Design Activism. The role of toolkits like MakeTools…
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Co-design’s many names
Co-design, also known as participatory design, has a rich history and is not as new as commonly thought. It has evolved over 60 years, originating in social research and community development. There are numerous related practices and disciplines, such as…
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