What is the Process of Co-design and How Can We Incorporate it Into Design and Construction?

You might have seen the term co-design used in recent years, in both Indigenous and non-Indigenous spaces in research, education, and planning, to name a few. Co-design is both a process and a set of principles, and it’s a name we are proud to embody and strive towards in our own means of engagement within our workplace design and construct process. For clarity, we’ll refer to ourselves in the way we spell our business name - CoDesign, while we will refer to the collaborative process discussed here as co-design.

What is co-design?

In a recent article in The Conversation titled ‘Co-design’ is the latest buzzword in Indigenous education policy. Does it live up to the hype?’ the authors state that ‘co-design is the new buzz word being applied to relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.’

The term has been used for a number of years within government, research and community sectors ‘to describe a range of activities and processes used in the design of services and products that involve people who use or are affected by that service or product’.

It is most commonly used in relation to projects involving a group of underrepresented or marginalised people, involved in developing a service or product that will affect them.

“But it is more than a consultation process. It is supposed to improve outcomes through collaborative relationships.”[1]

What does co-design mean for our work in the built environment?

Modern Australia has a responsibility of custodianship to the land that we live and work on. By incorporating the knowledge and connection to land developed by Indigenous communities through truth telling and co-design, we can construct buildings in a way that is sensitive and connects to its environment.

As our CEO Richard Swain emphasises, ‘we need to find common ground between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people on the importance of caring for Country, as we all have a relationship to Country and need to work together to heal it’.

A collaborative co-design process of ongoing engagement with Indigenous Community is a necessary tool for meaningful collaboration. This means learning from and listening to Indigenous people on the needs of their community and the way that the built environment can positively contribute to those communities and to Country.

“Where this process starts, and what is perhaps the most important aspect of genuine co-design practice, is the initial trust-building conversations needed in order to have an authentic and culturally appropriate relationship with the Custodians and wider community.”[2]

Many government, non-government and corporate organisations are using the concept and tools of co-design to generate meaningful collaboration and conversations. NSW Council of Social Service formed a co-design framework that has been adopted by many organisations. It encompasses five principles that outline the key factors of co-design:

Inclusive  – the process involves people from critical stakeholder groups with lived experience and utilises their guidance and feedback

Respectful – all participants are treated as experts

Participative – the process is open, empathetic and responsive

Iterative – ideas and solutions are continually used to create, redesign or evaluate services, systems or products

Outcomes focused – designed to achieve an outcome where solutions can be measured and tested.[3]

The concept and process of co-design will no doubt continue to reach more eager and curious participants across a range of sectors. We are striving to ensure, as CoDesign + Sheldon, that the principles of co-design are reflected within our name, values and work in regenerating workplace design and construction.

[1] https://theconversation.com/co-design-is-the-latest-buzzword-in-indigenous-education-policy-does-it-live-up-to-the-hype-212194

[2] https://www.brickworks.com.au/articles/connecting-to-country-the-importance-of-meaningful-co-design-practices-in-the-built-environment/

[3]https://www.ncoss.org.au/sector-hub/sector-resources/principles-of-co-design/