Co-design readiness: Strength of co-design practice
About the 'co-design practice' readiness domain
The domain of 'co-design practice' is centred around the practical implementation of co-design, touching on participant engagement, facilitation, understanding of power dynamics, and support structures. It's about how the co-design process unfolds in real terms. This is likely the domain that most people associate with 'co-design' — preparing to deliver and facilitating co-design activities.
Improving 'co-design practice' for impactful co-design
Good co-design practice is fundamentally about creating a supportive, inclusive, and respectful environment where every participant feels valued and empowered to contribute. This involves establishing robust support systems within the organisation to address both the emotional and professional needs of the co-design team and participants.
Ensuring that everyone involved has access to the necessary social and emotional supports is key, especially when sessions delve into sensitive areas that might evoke strong responses. The choice of physical space is also crucial, as it must foster a sense of safety and comfort, encouraging open and honest dialogue.
Facilitators play a pivotal role in managing dynamics within the group, particularly in balancing the voices between those with lived experience and professionals to prevent power imbalances. Their approach must be trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and leverage the strengths of all participants to cultivate a rich, collaborative environment.
Clear communication before and after co-design sessions is essential for setting expectations and maintaining engagement. Participants should be well-informed about the process, its objectives, and their roles beforehand, and receive timely updates about the outcomes and next steps afterward.
By weaving together these practices, co-design becomes more than just a methodology; it transforms into a meaningful journey that respects and harnesses the diversity of experiences, leading to outcomes that are truly reflective of the collective wisdom and needs of the community.
'Co-design practice' readiness assessment questions
Questions to ask yourself to gauge how your organisation approaches co-design and whether that aligns with 'good practice':
My organisation has an established system or process for providing social and emotional support to the co-design team (e.g. facilitator) if needed
My organisation provides opportunities for co-design participants to access support (either peers or professionals) to provide support to them if the session troubles them.
My organisation uses an appropriate physical space to undertake co-design activities that is conducive to safe and comfortable participation
My organisation has access to co-design facilitators who understand and routinely address power dynamics (i.e. between lived experience folks and professionals) during co-design processes.
My organisation has access to co-design facilitators who use co-design methods that are trauma-informed, culturally safe and strengths-based
My organisation routinely informs co-design participants in advance about the co-design process, what it's focussed on and what is expected of them.
My organisation routinely communicates with co-design participants after co-design sessions conclude, to thank them and inform them of next steps.
Tangible ways that you improve 'co-design practice' to increase your organisational readiness for co-design
If your organisation has scored low on this domain or you are looking for tips on how to improve your approach to co-design to enhance the the effectiveness of future co-design processes, here are some tangible examples that your organisation could commit to:
Social and emotional support system: establish a system or process for providing social and emotional support to the co-design team when needed. This can include access to counselling services or peer support groups to address the emotional demands of co-design work.
Provide support for co-design participants: ensure access to support personnel, either peers or professionals, to assist participants in distress during or after co-design sessions. Having a network of support personnel can enhance the safety and well-being of participants.
Conducive co-design space: secure a physical space for co-design that is conducive to safe and comfortable participation. The space should be accessible, well-ventilated, well-lit, and equipped with the necessary amenities to facilitate productive co-design sessions.
Pre-session information sharing: develop a practice of informing co-design participants in advance about the process, its focus, and what is expected of them. Providing clear information helps set the right expectations and prepares participants for meaningful engagement.
Training on power dynamics and culturally safe methods: provide training to facilitators on understanding and addressing power dynamics during co-design processes, and on using co-design methods that are trauma-informed, culturally safe, and strengths-based. This training can help ensure that co-design sessions are conducted respectfully and inclusively.
Post-session follow-up mechanism: implement mechanisms to routinely touch base with participants after co-design sessions conclude. This follow-up can include gathering feedback, addressing any concerns, and keeping participants informed on the progress and outcomes of the co-design initiatives.
About the Beacon Strategies organisational co-design readiness assessment tool
The Beacon Strategies Organisational Co-Design Readiness Assessment Tool is an instrument that has been designed to evaluate an organisation's preparedness and capability to engage in effective co-design practices.
The tool is based on a combination of our insights in delivering co-design work but also inspired by the work of co-design thought leaders from Australia and beyond regarding the ‘enablers’ that organisations can have in place to deliver co-design effectively. This tool focuses on key domains that are central to delivering a ‘good’ co-design process. This tool isn’t academic in any way, it has simply been constructed to give your organisation an insight into how you can give your co-design activities the best chance to succeed.
To assess your organisation's readiness for co-design and to learn more about embedding effective co-design practices, access the Beacon Strategies Organisational Co-Design Readiness Assessment Tool.
Test your organisation’s score for free at https://co-design.scoreapp.com/
For further information and resources, visit our co-design homepage. If you want to talk to us more about co-design click here to speak to our team.
