Co-design is a practice of learning through doing. For CICs, co-design can be understood as the process by which communities work together to understand problems, create ideas, test solutions and learn together to make things work better. While no single approach works for every community, core features include shared decision-making and involving those with lived experience in shaping solutions.
There is no ‘one way’ to do co-design, just as there is no one person or organisation that can solve a complex problem. Each community has different challenges and strengths, which is why it is important to stay open to new ideas, ask questions, and learn together as you work side by side to change things for the better.
The NYEB Co-design Guide has been developed through listening to and learning from communities across Australia about what works to lead true co-design.
The guide outlines four key principles to successful co-design:
- Purposeful engagement. Design opportunities for people to be involved with a clear purpose and realistic potential for how it will allow them to influence solutions and participate in meaningful decision-making processes.
- Inclusive practices. Ensure that involvement efforts reach people from diverse backgrounds, supporting an environment where all perspectives are valued and initiatives are responsive to community needs. This will promote a sense of belonging and encourage meaningful contributions from every person engaged.
- Sustained commitment. Invest in resources and training to support involvement of people
with lived experience and then sustain it beyond a one-off contribution and embed it as a core way of working. This would require adequate resources for skill-building opportunities and support that empowers people to participate confidently and prepares them for leadership roles in their community. - Balanced power dynamics. Create a culture that actively challenges stereotypes and deficit views of people seeking support in the community, and balances power by equally valuing the knowledge that people with lived experience bring to the table alongside those with professional expertise.
Download the full co-design guide [PDF]
This co-design guide is informed by diverse knowledge across the Brotherhood of St. Laurence and NYEB, and others working to support community-led co-design, including: Auckland Co-design Lab, The Australian Centre for Social Innovation (TASCI), Beyond Sticky Notes, Kasama Consulting, Lankelly Chase, and the Tamarack Institute.