Our focus
Co-design is a way of working that fosters shared creativity and collective problem-solving, enabling people to actively participate in shaping solutions or interventions that matter to them. Developing new products and services is becoming increasingly complex, because of the technology used, global competition and the interconnectedness of products, services and infrastructure. Successfully innovating products and services is therefore not just about the smart use of technology and designing the things right, it is also about designing the right things. As we delve into the depths of the co-design field, we work on solving design challenges together with the target group and stakeholders, instead of for the target group. Next to that main topic of co-design, we’ll also have a strong focus on the following themes:
Systemic Design
Systemic design is about exploring the context and stakeholders of the projects on different levels of abstraction. We make sure we include diverse stakeholders during the whole project and we visualize what the connections between these stakeholders and elements in the complex systems are. In this way we try to understand the current system as good as possible and we design for a better system.
Design Research & Creatorship
We design for two different goals: We design interventions to understand the system and we try to understand the system to design interventions for the system. Therefore we are constantly switching between the creators role and the facilitators role of a designer. We create experienceable concepts, low and high fidelity prototypes and you will learn how to facilitate co-design sessions during the whole design process.
Impact & Change
Systems can be very complex, you only have to turn a button and everything can change. This can have an impact on different levels of abstraction and that is why we think it is important to consciously deal with the impact that an intervention will make in a system. Such complex projects therefore involve social considerations and considerations regarding sustainability and ethics.
Professional & Personal growth
A 'concept' means something different to everyone. This is just one example, but it shows why we love to work in interdisciplinary and international teams: we want to learn from each other. Furthermore, we think it is important that you get started with shaping your own vision and becoming aware of your own skills and mindset. Drawing up a moral compass is also a part of this. Sometimes you are faced with ethical decisions, which choices do you make and why?
Two tracks
Our program runs with two tracks. While all juniors follow the same general workshops, lectures,
and activities together, each track diverges when it comes to the main projects. You'll attend
track-specific workshops and work on a project tailored to your track.
Social Design
In the Social Design track you start with people, not a predefined product or solution. Together with communities, organisations and users, you explore real-life challenges and uncover what truly matters. Through research, conversations and co-creation, you discover what needs to be designed. The outcome might become a service, a program, a toolkit, an experience, or new way of working, depending on what might have the most impact.
Product Design
In the Product Design track you focus on creating physical or hybrid products, starting from real user needs and insights. You work in co-creation with users, clients and stakeholders, facilitating workshops and sessions to turn ideas into meaningful, testable prototypes. From the first idea to a working prototype, you explore materials, usability, sustainability, functionality and production methods.
Our framework
During the minor you’ll build experience and expertise on involving your users and creating engaging concepts. In our 3 Design Projects,
you’ll really get to work on a current case for one of our clients. During everything you do, our coaches will guide you through to
make sure this will be one of the best programs you’ll ever experience. The frameworks of the minor exists of:
Onboarding week
We start our program with an onboarding week where you have the time to get used to the new people, location, and studio. You will get to know the other juniors by doing some teambuilding exercises and you'll start making the studio your own space.
Projects for clients
We are working on 3 big projects. The first project is about inclusive design, the second project is about systemic design and in the last project you will combine both approaches. Last years, we worked for Arriva, UMC Utrecht, Vanderlande, Municipality of Utrecht, Zero food waste (Orbisk), Fischer and many others.
Workshops
During the workshops we offer you the opportunity to work with our coaches on a more direct and personal level. We offer design related tools and methods and you will build experience and expertise on involving diverse stakeholders and creating impactful concepts.
Challenges
Sometimes we get the opportunity to join a one week challenge, for example the Healthy Living Challenge or the Utrecht Mobility Challenge. In these challenges you will go through the design process in a short time.
The International week
The international week is a week where all the juniors are send to one of our international partners within Europe to collaborate for a few days on their project. We have been collaborating with many places, like Manchester(UK), Turku(FI), Valencia(ES), Warsaw(PL), Budapest(H) and Hamburg(D). Check the video >
(Life) Coaching
Personal and professional development is an important part of our program. That's why we are focussing on this part for one full week throughout the 'War room week'. We also offer personal coaching and some of our coaches are primarily focused on helping you articulate your professional growth.
