Marielle Sam-Wall’s Post

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Day 7 Co-design is not a silver bullet,it has a greater purpose On the final day of my rather protracted co-design reflection that has been prompted by the conversations I had after our design panel on designing with communities Design Council. I want to return to the greatest thing I have learnt and keep reflecting on during my 10+ years in the co-deisgn craft. It is the fact that co-design is not a silver bullet, it alone will not instantly solve long-standing problems such as play inequality or climate change, and was never meant to. Co-design has been adopted within a wide range of services, products, policies and environments. I truely believe this is a great thing, however, I also recognise that co-design has many flaws. Recently, when faced with the critiques of tokenism, user fatigue, suppression of voices and the need for #decolonisation within co-design. I started to go back to its origins and question what we are focusing on when we co-design, have we gone beyond the need for innovation? Co-designs' supposed origin is in 1960’s Scandinavian participatory design practices*, that sought to democratise design. A form of design that called out for progression through meaningful participation. Progression in the way products were produced, how problems were solved, progression that has evolved to be a form of social and environmental justice, where co-design has a greater purpose. Within our capitalist, neoliberal society, the forces of the powerful minority often trump and can even squash all co-design efforts, especially for more marginalised groups. Like democracy, co-design doesn’t mean the powerless always win, but what it does do, is provide a mechanism for their voice's to be heard and ENACTED. It provides a method (amongst many others) to emanicaptate the masses from oppressive design forces. It promotes collaboration and care between the powerful and the seemingly powerless. These purposes trumps innovation and reminds us that a silver bullet to solving wicked problems was never the aim of co-design. 🤔As co-design continues to gain more traction, I look forward to a time when equity, love and brotherhood prevails and co-design will cease to exist…instead it will just be called design. Design Council Almira Lardizabal Hussain Arthur Perez Lesley Ann Noel, PhD Jessica Oddy PhD. Centering Equity in Design for Social Impact Amollo Ambole #designequity I strongly believe that co-design has been practised without being classified across the world long before this I’ll provide a summary of the remaining 6 days in the comments 😀

Inclusion is key.

Human-centred design is here to stay. What we are pushing for is a more critical consideration of what it actually is, and what it needs to include to be deserving of that title. Read our latest Insights: https://bit.ly/3QJQJgx #humancentereddesign #placemaking #inclusivedesign #wayfinding

Empathy-building is a cornerstone of design practice. The Empathy Walk is a structured way to walk with the people you're designing with and for and gets you out and into the settings your creations are intended. It's an engaging approach for designers and communities. If you're interested in learning more, visit the latest issue of The Design Loft and learn how to walk your way into making better things with empathy (and a whole lot more). #design #designmethods #empathy

“Design creates culture. Culture creates values. Values create the future.” Robert L. Peters Design is more than just aesthetics or functionality. It is a way of thinking and acting that shapes the world we live in and affects how we interact with each other and our environment. Design has the power to create an equitable and sustainable society. One of the initiatives that exemplifies a commitment to design for equity and sustainability is the National Infrastructure Commission’s (NIC) Design Group recently published Design Principles Handbook. The Design Group was established in 2019 with the mission to inspire design excellence in UK infrastructure projects, focusing on social value and creative responses to ‘people, places, and the environment’. The group is chaired by Professor Sadie Morgan OBE, who in her opening preface beautifully adds clarity to an innocent yet over utilised assumptive word: "People – developing a truly inclusive and accessible design that is sympathetic to the social and community context in which it will operate." To design for equity and sustainability, we need to follow a process that is human-centred, participatory, and iterative. This means that we need to empathise with the needs and perspectives of the diverse humans we are designing for, to test and refine our ideas, take accountability and be transparent around our failures, and celebrate and share our successes. We need to be conscious that design impacts our culture (how and who benefits) and culture (our bias or unconscious incompetence) impacts our design. The handbook sets out a structured process for applying tailored principles to mitigate against this catch 22. This week I had three thought provoking conversations around different topics (Education / Innovation / Modern Methods of Construction), on reflection with the above they resonate around the same themes incorporated within a brief: ·      Why is change needed (how do the different needs get integrated) ·      What is the outcome we desire and for who (and who is forgotten) ·      How do we get there (collaboratively) ·      Where is the information we need (the reality v theory) ·      Who checks the answer (meets the principles and values) As organisations we need to improve how we foster a curious, courageous and empathetic mindset. Which enables collaboration, integration and commitment on the design principles at the outset to ensure we deliver outcomes that are exceptional and fit for the future we want live in. #HumanCentredDesign #DesignPrinciples #UNSDGs #SocialValue #ESG #EquitableSafety Thank you to Melissa Zanocco OBE, Helen Hill Daniel Shotter for involving my thoughts into the final document link here https://lnkd.in/edqBig3s Image Description in Alt Text. Created by AI DALL-E 3

The principles of universal design provide a framework for creating inclusive and accessible environments. These principles guide designers and architects in making spaces that can be used by people of all abilities. Here are the seven principles of universal design: 1. Equitable Use: The design should be usable by all people, regardless of their abilities. It should provide the same means of use for everyone, regardless of size, strength, or ability. 2. Flexibility in Use: The design should accommodate a wide range of individual preferences and abilities. The space or product should have options and adaptability to suit different user needs and preferences. 3. Simple and Intuitive Use: The design should be easy to understand and use, with clear instructions and minimal complexity. Users should be able to navigate and interact with the space or product without confusion or difficulty. 4. Perceptible Information: The design should provide clear and effective communication to users, regardless of their sensory abilities. Visual, auditory, and tactile information should be available and easily interpreted. 5. Tolerance for Error: The design should minimize hazards and the consequences of accidental or unintended actions. It should anticipate user errors and be forgiving, allowing users to recover easily. 6. Low Physical Effort: The design should require minimal physical effort to use. It should be accessible and comfortable for people with varying degrees of physical abilities, reducing fatigue and strain. 7. Size and Space for Approach and Use: The design should provide adequate space for users to navigate, reach, and interact with the space or product. It should consider the range of users' abilities, ensuring accessibility for all. These principles are not limited to physical spaces; they can also be applied to digital interfaces, communication, and technology. By following these principles, designers can create environments that are inclusive, accessible, and welcoming to people of all abilities. #UniversalDesign #Accessibility #Inclusion

In the May edition of our Newsletter, we had the privilege of collaborating with Jeroen Spoelstra, the visionary Life-centered Designer and founder of the Life-Centered Design School. He graciously shared his top three recommendations, curating a collection that's sure to spark your interest in Life-centered Design: 📗 BOOK: "Decolonizing Design – A Cultural Justice Guidebook" by Elizabeth (Dori) Tunstall Jeroen says about the book: “This book was eye opening for me about how design and the design practices are intertwined in colonialism, racism and equity. Dona Turnstall teaches me how to decolonize life-centered design.” 📄 ARTICLE: "Beyond Human-Centered Design: How Life-Centered Design is Transforming Urban Development" by Joseph Oliver (inform design) Jeroen says: “Joseph Oliver shares his views on what is needed for life-centered design to be affective in the urban environment, with a great case study from Italy.” 💬 QUOTE: "Less design sprints, more design walks!" is what Jeroen Spoelstra suggests and he explains further: “In a time where our design practice is rushed and everything needs to be fast and bite sized, I encourage designers to slow down, go outside and design in a more conscious way.” 🔗 For more inspiration around Life-centered Design: https://lnkd.in/e8j4zS_9 🔗 #lifecentereddesign #lifecentreddesign

When designing products, places and services, there are many approaches to design to consider. Two of the most common processes are universal design and accessible design. These terms are often used interchangeably, although they are not the same. In our blog, we explore the differences between the two, and elaborate on why they are both valuable approaches. Read more at https://buff.ly/3UW1U63 #UniversalDesign #AccessibleDesign #DesignForAll #AccessibleAotearoa

Cross-cultural design is the process of understanding cultural differences and allowing them to inform the design process. Here’s why it’s important and how you can start incorporating the practice into your own projects. #crossculturaldesign #digitaldesign #productdesign