Co-Design Research: A Collaborative Approach to Innovation

Consider a study aimed at improving support services for first-generation college students at a large university. The research team set out to create online resources and workshops to help these students navigate college life, academics, and career planning. Based on lots of data about first-generation students’ challenges and feedback from university staff who worked with these students, the researchers developed what they were sure would be an effective support program. Ultimately, the target population found the resources relatively useless and the supports disappeared as quickly as they had come to be.

In this all too common example, the research team did not directly involve first-generation students in the process assuming that data and “expert” insights would sufficiently capture students' needs. But without direct involvement of the target population, researchers failed to discover what these students truly needed.

What is Co-Design Research and Why is it Important?

Co-design research is a collaborative approach to innovation that involves working closely with end-users to develop solutions that meet their specific needs. By involving users in the design process, researchers and designers can gain valuable insights and ensure that the final product is truly user-centered. 

Take our first-generation college student research as an example. 

Without a co-design approach, programs are largely shaped by assumptions rather than actual student experiences. While a researcher might assume workshops need to cover academic skills and career advice, without co-design at the center, they might miss crucial issues like imposter syndrome, family pressures, or financial stressors that many first-generation students face. 

By involving users in the design process, we can ensure that the final product is relevant, usable, and valuable. What’s more, co-design research has been shown to lead to more innovative and effective solutions. Finally, collaborating with users can build trust and foster stronger relationships.

Had the researchers in this relatable example engaged in a co-design approach, first-generation students could have contributed their own experiences and voiced specific needs from the start. This involvement would likely have surfaced priorities that the researchers had overlooked. Through co-design, the program could have better reflected the students' real-world challenges, fostering a greater sense of belonging and increasing engagement yielding a more desirable outcome for all parties involved. 

This example highlights how co-design can deepen understanding and lead to services that genuinely resonate with the target population, rather than missing the mark through outsider assumptions.

Want to try co-design but not sure where to start? Here are some strategies aligned with a co-design research methodology: 

1. Establish Trust and Build Relationships

• Spend time understanding the participants’ backgrounds, needs, and priorities.
• Be transparent about the goals of the research and how their input will be used.
• Create a safe and inclusive environment where participants feel valued and heard.

2. Use Participatory Methods

• Facilitate interactive workshops where participants brainstorm and prototype ideas together.
• Encourage participants to share their experiences and perspectives to guide the design process.
• Collaboratively map experiences or workflows to identify pain points and opportunities.

3. Be Flexible and Iterative

• Start with open-ended discussions and progressively refine ideas through multiple iterations.
• Adapt the process to suit participants' preferences and evolving insights.
• Allow participants to explore and communicate ideas in ways they find most comfortable.

4. Facilitate Equity in Collaboration

• Acknowledge and address power dynamics to ensure all voices are equally represented.
• Rotate leadership roles during sessions so everyone contributes and influences decision-making.
• Use language, metaphors, and symbols that resonate with their experiences.

5. Ensure Clear Communication

• Regularly check in with participants to confirm shared understanding and alignment.
• Use visual summaries or interactive presentations to convey progress and insights.

• Reflect with participants on what worked well and what could be improved.

6. Celebrate Contributions

• Recognize and celebrate the participants' contributions throughout and at the conclusion of the project.
• Share outcomes with participants in a way that highlights their role in the design process.

These strategies not only enrich the research outcomes but also empower participants, fostering designs that are more inclusive, relevant, and impactful.

Want more on co-design? 

By following these principles and leveraging the power of co-design research, we can create innovative solutions that truly meet the needs of our users. 

If you want to engage in co-design, but you are not sure where to start, Digital Promise is a fantastic resource. Digital Promise is a global nonprofit working to expand opportunity for each learner. Their mission is to shape the future of learning and advance equitable education systems by bringing together solutions across research, practice, and technology. They work with educators, researchers, technology leaders, and communities to design, investigate, and scale up innovations that empower learners, especially those who’ve been historically and systematically excluded. Check out their blog post about co-design or contact them directly if you are looking for a dedicated research partner!