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Before you start, make sure you’re familiar with the key models and design processes used in co-design. You can find them here Before you start: Co-design foundations
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This module explores three key aspects that will help establish a strong foundation for your co-design project: defining your challenge, crafting your agreements, and clarifying your objectives.
A well-defined challenge sets the direction and focus for your project. By investing time in collaboratively defining a clear, actionable design challenge at the outset, co-design teams can set themselves up for a more focused, aligned, and impactful process. This critical first step lays the foundation for all subsequent co-design activities.
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All templates for the planning phase can be found in the co-design toolkit section Planning your design project
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A problem statement clearly defines the issue, identifies who is affected, and explains its importance, helping everyone align around the challenge. Use a problem statement when you need clarity on who is affected by the issue, what the issue is, and why it matters.
A ‘how might we?’ question converts the problem into an open-ended one that encourages multiple solutions, balancing clarity and flexibility. Use a ‘how might we?’ question to explore possibilities and encourage collaborative brainstorming.
A design hypothesis creates a testable assumption about how a solution might address the problem, guiding experimentation and outcome validation. Use a design hypothesis when you have a concept or solution to test and need a framework for experimentation.
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Key takeaway
Start with a problem statement to align the team, transition to a ‘how might we?’ question for ideation, and utilise a design hypothesis when ready to validate ideas.
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Co-design projects thrive when everyone is clear on how they will work together. Establishing design principles, team agreements, and a team charter helps create a shared foundation.