Co-Designing Transition Experiments
This method guides participants through the co-creation of transition experiments, focusing on addressing societal challenges through innovative, place-based projects. It leverages a card deck to ensure experiments are radical, strategic, supported, mobilizing, feasible, and measurable.
Use this method when you need to develop innovative solutions to complex societal problems by engaging diverse stakeholders in a collaborative design process, particularly in the context of urban planning or community development.
Solves: Lack of stakeholder buy-in, solutions that are not practical or sustainable, difficulty translating abstract ideas into concrete action plans.
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Step 1: Engage with a Place-Based Project (30 mins). Introduce a real-world project with existing challenges and stakeholders. Have participants research the project's context, stakeholders' needs, and recent changes.
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Step 2: First Brainstorm (20 mins). Individually or in teams, generate initial ideas for a place-based experiment. Encourage creative thinking and focus on long-term goals, alignment with existing plans, and addressing user needs.
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Step 3: Using the Card Deck (40 mins). Collaboratively develop one experiment concept using the Co-Designing Transition Experiments card deck and instruction worksheet. Ensure detailed responses and revisit earlier topics as needed.
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Step 4: Pair up for Co-Design (40 mins). Pair teams working on different projects and have them use the card deck collaboratively on both projects, taking turns to provide peer feedback.
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Step 5: Co-Design with Key Stakeholders (120-240 mins). Organize a co-design session with relevant stakeholders using the card deck. Facilitate the session based on previous experiences and consider holding it in a public space.
- Encourage students to take the lead in organizing and facilitating the co-design session.
- Provide support by helping book a location or providing materials.
- Adapt the card deck to focus on specific themes or sectors (e.g., energy, mobility).
- Use different brainstorming techniques to generate initial ideas.