Co-Design with Diversity as Resource for Innovation

Abstract

Co-Design aims to ensure democratic inclusion in processes of development, creation and everyday living [1], [2], [3]. Co-Design involves users in policy making, idea creation, design and implementation in Architecture, Industrial Design, Service Design and UX-Design. According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), it is a right, not only to be able to consume what others have made, but also to share one’s own creations, thoughts and perspectives with others [4]. However there is a gap between vision and reality. Persons are excluded if they can’t communicate verbally or read and write. It is because traditional Co-Design is mainly communicated in text and verbal language. In a case with a family with a young adult with learning disabilities, we prototype the design process using Alternative and Augmented Communication. Through stories of use we discuss how to include persons with reading and writing disabilities. Based on the use experiences we suggest innovating traditional Co-Design toolkits and prototyping, by adding methods for Openness towards diverse values and cultures, Physical interaction and improvisation, Concrete motivating ideas. Our thesis is that by re-designing the Co-Design process to include persons with disabilities, we not only empower the persons directly involved to communicate and increase health and wellbeing [5]. We believe it can also contribute to the society that misses out on an important resource of innovation: Diversity [6], [3].

Co-Design with Diversity as Resource for Innovation