Co-design

When Co-Design Becomes a PR Exercise: Learning from Australia’s Live Export Debacle

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Co-Design vs Performative Consultation Co-design has become the darling of public policy. Governments and organisations everywhere trumpet their commitment to collaborative decision-making, promising to work alongside affected communities to shape policies that impact them. But what happens when co-design is deployed not as a genuine collaborative process, but as window dressing for decisions already made? … Read more

Why Co-Design Delivers Better Results

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Team collaborating under facilitator guidance, demonstrating co-design, shared leadership, and teamwork.

For generations human history has been littered with evidence that people want to be included in decisions which affect them.  In 1789, the French Revolution echoed to calls for liberty, equality and fraternity; one of the most memorable rallying cries of any movement.  Liberty spoke to the need to be free of rules imposed by … Read more

Co-Design In Place Is Better

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Participants engaged in focus group discussion, demonstrating co-design, inclusion, and shared decision-making.

Co-Design In Place Is Better, as a sense of place has captivated humankind for millennia.  For many, where we come from provides a deep sense of meaning, security and identity.  However, for an increasing number of people where they come from is a determinant of lifelong prospects.  Our postcode determines how well we live because resources are not equally distributed.

The Co-Design Paradox: Better Solutions, Faster

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Tracey Johnson & Natasha Doherty speaking about good co-design at ADF Conference - Prevention in Place

The Co-Design Paradox: It is not about having a few meetings with representatives at the table. It is a process that starts far earlier to define the real need. Digging into that is a real process of discovery which starts with a plan.  That plan is for how to explore the current state, engage the big stakeholders who control resources, explore their perspectives and together develop a unified plan for community engagement. 

Unlock Better Solutions: The Democratic Power of Co-Design

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Group of people of different ages, symbolizing diversity, intergenerational engagement, and community connection.

The Democratic Power of Co-Design. The world is full of need. Our resources to respond are limited. Scarcity prevails. We need to unlock better solutions. Beyond the limits to budgets to address need, there are also limits to how people understand each other.  Communication theory and teachings on strategy are replete with reminders to: