Unveiling Co-Design
Overview
This research project aims at promoting awareness (and addressing) the exclusion dynamics inherent in co-design processes.
In doing this, it explores how co-design processes and decision-making activities can be based on a more comprehensive understanding of the unfolding of the process in the local context.
A process will be designed to support designers in this type of reflection.
keywords: co-design, democracy, exclusion, ecosystem, networks
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The co-design approach is often considered as a key catalyst for making everyday life more democratic. However, co-design processes can also bring challenges and risks to the participatory democracy that they aim to promote. In the specific case of this research project, the focus is on exploring and strengthening the democratic potential of co-design processes.
The project does that by identifying, reflecting, and promoting awareness on the exclusion dynamics inherent to co-design processes.
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This research project is an exploratory investigation based on a generative research approach. After a scoping review on the current discussion on the topic; a process is being designed to support designers in identifying the exclusion dynamics that characterize their own (past) co-design processes, and the factors and reasons behind them. The process will be tested with designers that are experts in co-design activity, and then shared with the wider community.