OUTDOOR ACTIVITY FUND CASE STUDY
CO-DESIGN The term co-design is often synonymous with tangible product design, where companies engage with their users to co-create new products or engender improvements and developments. More and more we are seeing community groups, businesses, and local councils incorporating the codesign model into their operations. Sport and recreation groups have latched onto this method of planning and development because it: Forges constructive relationships Generates original and unique ideas Validates the ideas of customers and partners Creates a sense of ownership Several recipients of the Recreation Aotearoa Outdoor Activity Fund (OAF) 2019/2020 applied codesign to their projects and have made it a key part of their overall kaupapa. In this case study we will look at the mechanics of co design with reference to three of the OAF projects.
THE OAF PROJECTS USING CO-DESIGN Shift Foundation Shift Foundation are a Wellington based community group dedicated to empowering young women and giving them the opportunity to focus on wellbeing through social and physical activities. Shift’s project is a five-day wellbeing camp led by young women from the Wellington region. The camp’s aim is to encourage youth leadership through the outdoors, active recreation, and create opportunities for young women with limited access.
Why they co-design… One of Shift’s core values is co-design and partnership. Shift strongly believe that collaborating with partners and young women enables them to develop a better understanding of their needs in an everchanging environment. In turn they feel they are working towards the greatest and most honest impact for the community they exist to serve.
Photo courtesy of Aotearoa Water Patrol
Aotearoa Water Patrol Aotearoa Water Patrol (AWP) are a Māori collective working with the community to promote open water safety through mātauranga Māori. AWP delivered a water safety wānanga for Māori youth in the Waikato, with particular focus on implementing and refining mātauranga Māori in their pedagogy and teaching. Why they co-design… Aotearoa Water Patrol elected to use co-design as means to ensure they were on the same page as their key stakeholders and partners. It was important for all parties involved that their aims and desires aligned.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITY FUND CASE STUDY CO-DESIGN Adventure Specialties Trust Adventure Specialties Trust (AST) have been in outdoor education and adventure therapy for over 30 years. They use their experience in the industry to provide outdoor adventure programmes that facilitate the holistic development of individuals, families, and communities. AST’s OAF project focuses on exposing Māori to a range of career options in the outdoors with the view to go straight into higher education or internships.
Why they co-design… AST established that they did not have the resources, ideas, skills, or knowledge to put together an effective programme, so implementing a co-design process was a logical process for the organisation. Working with Māori, Pakeha, tourism, conservation, education, and youth workers has given them a better sense of their projects and an authentic direction
CO-DESIGN: WHAT EXACTLY IS IT? In its simplest form co-design is a collaboration process. It is about actively engaging with your stakeholders to create a product or programme that benefits them and meets their needs. To codesign is to utilize the experiences and observations of your users and partners; the key principle is to develop a service that is functional and beneficial to them and encourages a sense of ownership and creative contribution.
Below is a diagram, developed by The Auckland Co-Design Lab, which gives an overview of the co-design process:
“Collaboration is more than just tapping into the individual knowledge that internal and external stakeholders possess. It is about discovering their unique, and collective perspectives on the systems in which they live…”.[1]
HOW TO IMPLEMENT IT There is no right or wrong way to implement a co-design process, the key is to actively engage and brainstorm with the community or group you are aiming to serve. The groups under the Recreation Aotearoa 2019/2020 OAF incorporated co-design into their programme development and many of them found it had the best results.
While each project had a slightly different target audience (youth, young women, Māori), there were common denominators in the implementation of co-design: GAUGE interest in your project – make sure you open a dialogue about your project first. Ensure that it is something that your target group want and need. Consider running a panel session or Inspiration Station’[2] to get a better idea of the thought processes and desires of the group involved. LISTEN to the community or group you are engaging with – understand what they want out of your programme, learn about their cultural and personal sensitivities, find out about their long-term goals and aspirations.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITY FUND CASE STUDY CO-DESIGN GUIDE the discussion toward clarity – ensure your project has a clear purpose and you can easily impart that purpose to your target community. When you have clarity, your group will have clarity, then you can guide them through the development process and understanding their wants and needs. But be sure that it is guiding and not controlling. ACCEPT different ways of working and communicating – not everyone is wired to understand budgets or is confident enough to offer solutions to problems at the drop of a hat. It is important to accept that you may need to frame things in a different way, take time to explain strategies, and always keep an open dialogue.
“There is an important first step before any co-design journey can begin, and that is whakawhanaungatanga (connection). Without the establishment of connections, trust, and understanding of those you are guiding and designing with, you will not have a successful project.” – Shift Foundation
THE CHALLENEGES While co-designing has immense benefits, it does come with its intricacies. These are challenges that are not necessarily universal but should be factored into your development process. Groups in the OAF reported the following challenges: Ensuring a diverse range of voices are heard Ensuring that the quieter voices are heard Coordination and scheduling Ignoring the gut instinct to ‘tell’ rather than ‘encourage and listen’ Conflicting goals and expectations Participation resistance A global pandemic*
“Be prepared to be challenged and adjust your mindset for how different people in different organisation work.” – Adventure Specialties Trust
Photo courtesy of Adventure Specialties Trust
MANAGING EXPECTATIONS AND FACING CHALLENGES It is important to manage expectations and meet challenges head on when working in a group situation, particularly if that group has a diverse range of lived experiences and understanding. Our co-designing OAF projects have suggested some key practices that you can put in place to assist with this management: GET AHEAD – Aotearoa Water Patrol suggest you engage with your desired partners and stakeholders as early as possible. That way you can work on building resilient relationships and trust and get a feel for one another’s vision before launching into the project. PREPARE – It may seem obvious, but it is important to thoroughly prepare, whether that is allowing plenty of time for meetings (as recommended by Adventure Specialties Trust) or researching the groups joining your co-design process. By reading up on the people you intend to work with, you may be better equipped to face and understand any curveballs they throw your way.
*Many of the OAF projects were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and had to adapt to new ways of working and/or defer their projects entirely.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITY FUND CASE STUDY CO-DESIGN SET EXPECTATIONS Shift Foundation recommend engaging with a ‘kawa’, which is the process of setting expectations for oneself, for others in the group, the project, and project coordinators. This sets a starting point and acts as a framework for accountability. FACILITATE – While co-design is a collaborative process it still requires a degree of facilitation. Appoint someone to lead the discussion to ensure that the group is on track, sharing the floor, are aware of the boundaries (timeframes, financials etc), and conflict can be mediated. ADJUST - there may be times that you need to adjust the trajectory of your plan because it doesn’t fit the desired outcome. Remember that the group you are working with are the heart of your project and their views are pertinent in this process. If the requests for change are within reasonable bounds or consensus, reconfigure and revisit certain ideas. Brainstorm again and face the changes with an open mind.
NEXT STEPS If you have a project that you think would benefit from the co-design process, don’t be afraid to start having conversations with your community/target audience, and keep in mind the following key principles when embarking on your co-design journey: CONNECT – Open a dialogue with your community/target audience LISTEN – Listen to the wants and needs of your group ACCEPT – Respect and understand other ways of thinking and working COLLABORATE – Ensure everyone has an opportunity to contribute and avoid taking control
RESOURCES & OTHER READING The Barriers & Enablers of Co-Design for Services The Field Guide to Human Centred Design The Auckland Co-Design Lab Youth Work Code of Ethics Design Sprint for Recreation Community Research Co-Design & Community Devlopment: Kōrero and Insights from Māori Co-Designers Life Hack
Photo courtesy of Shift Foundation
“Begin the engagement and relationship building process early. Ensure that a mutual agreement is reached between all parties before seeking funding and delivering the programme.” – Aotearoa Water Patrol (Outdoor Activity Fund 2019/2020)
Shift Foundation Case Study
[1] Co-Design: A Powerful Force for Creativity and Collaboration [2] Shift Foundation ran an Inspiration Station at the beginning of their co-design process, similar to a brainstorming session. They use imagery to help get ideas across, voting exercises, and open floor discussion.