Co-design for community capacity building

Abstract

This doctoral research will examine the use of co-design---a "democratic approach that is focused on the processes and procedures of design...[that] collaboratively engages, consults and develops solutions to problems" (Cook, 2011, p. 50)---as a mechanism to build the capacity of lay people and communities to develop or influence socially sustainable solutions responsive to their needs and aspirations. The engagement of lay people and communities and their empowerment are complex phenomena through which individuals formulate meanings and actions that reflect their desired degree of participation in individual and collective decision-making processes (Tritter & McCallum, 2005). Therefore, this research also seeks to identify co-design processes and procedures that recognize different relevant forms of knowledge and experience of both professionals and lay people, while allowing for varying levels of participation in different stages of the design process.