Understanding co-design.

Photo by charlesdeluvio at Unsplash

Quintessential to inclusive design is the method of co-design. Co-design, sometimes called participatory design, is different from co-creation and co-production, which is the method of designing (blank) with and not for the users. The users are provided with an opportunity to define both the problem and the solution (Windasari & Visita, 2019), positioning the designers as guides, facilitators, and possibly even the executioners of the design (but not always). The class was tasked to read a paper that exemplified co-design. It highlighted how important it is in co-design to develop sessions or workshops that allow for engagement and participation and the ability to engage in decision-making (Kenning, 2018). Proper and in-depth knowledge of the users is needed, especially for vulnerable populations. For our first project in practicing co-design, we have chosen a user group we are a part of to keep our introductory experience manageable in the time frame given (just over a month).

To collect data on how to create a graduate student survey, we began with scoping interviews with a few students in other programs and a couple of faculty. From there, we created a google survey to gather information on the graduate student body's experiences, sensory engagements and sensitivities, and personal learning goals. While we awaited results, we continued to interview students with the same probing questions to discover if, through conversation, we could gauge a better understanding of students in other programs. Through these exercises, we analyzed the data and identified some emerging themes. Our themes aligned partially with our original research question. There was far less interest in engaging curiosity and more customizable or adaptive space that allowed them to adjust their experiences as they saw fit.

With the revelation in our user-groups request for an adaptive space, we began to look for inspiration and different case studies that met this design need. Our group collectively discovered these answers and shared them in a group google document.

References

Gail Kenning (2018) Reciprocal design: inclusive design approaches for people with late stage dementia, Design for Health, 2:1, 142-162, DOI: 10.1080/24735132.2018.1453638

Windasari, Nila A. & Visita, Luksi. (2019). User Engagement Mechanisms of Online Co-Design Service: Does User Innovativeness Matter?. Asian Academy of Management Journal. 24. 59-82. 10.21315/aamj2019.24.1.3.