S4T Co-Design Methodology The S4T Co-Design Methodology has been finalized in a strategy paper. The strategy takes as a point of reference participatory action research, participatory spatial practice and co-creation methods that are in line with the New European Bauhaus values and working principles. The methodology takes climate change, intertwined with biodiversity loss, as a “problem baseline” to which co-design outcomes at all scales need to relate. This is because the aim of S4T is to enhance the ability of multilevel and multisectoral actors in our local community to interact with and respond to these challenges. This means that we aim at bringing together actors ranging from grassroot initiatives to public administrations that are active in sectors ranging from urban planning over social welfare to education and many more. In doing so, the overall co-design attitude that S4T adheres to in its co-creation activities includes: ● Curiosity towards new viewpoints ● Transparency, trust and care ● Experimentation with participatory and emergent processes ● Transforming obstacles into opportunities ● Openness to failure ● Community empowerment and transformation ● Creating a shared brave space ● Keeping it complex, making it clear S4T co-design spiral The S4T co-design strategy follows the metaphor and trajectory of a spiral: co-design iterations move through the same design steps following each other and/or simultaneously – and at each turn of the spiral they reach an enhanced starting point at every beginning of a new iteration. As these iterations intertwine for the various spaces and aspects of S4T, the amount of actors involved in the project grows: from an initial ideation group to the community co-management and taking ownership of the spaces and proposed activities. With each iteration also the themes evolve with the aim of making things tangible and clear, while keeping them complex. This means that the activities multiply as well as diversify, while becoming more concrete in order to build up critical mass for transformation. Co-design principles In going through the spiral-like co-design iterations, we believe that the following principles will give us better results in terms of stakeholder involvement, defining participation-fostering activities and transformative impact of processes and outputs. 1. Create spaces and situations that are convivial and caring 2. Every multilevel and multisectoral stakeholder activity should meet multiple needs 3. Make co-design activities and events as accessible as possible 4. Walk the talk on sustainability 5. Continuously learn and be inspired by other practices If you want to learn more about the S4T Co-Design Methodology, here you can download the Strategy, inclusive of an overview in the form of a toolkit and descriptions of several iterations of the application of the methodology. PrintFriendly
