Short answer

Shift from designing *for* users to designing *with* users to ensure events truly reflect and serve the needs of their intended audience.

Field
User-Centred Design
Source
International Journal for Students as Partners (2023)
Method
Co-design Workshop
Evidence
Strong effect

Involving end-users directly in the design and delivery of an event fosters a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive experience. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in International Journal for Students as Partners. Using Co-design workshop, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Shift from designing *for* users to designing *with* users to ensure events truly reflect and serve the needs of their intended audience.

Study
User-Centred DesignRecentStrong effect

Co-designing inclusive events elevates participant engagement and ownership.

Involving end-users directly in the design and delivery of an event fosters a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive experience.

International Journal for Students as Partners · 2023

01

Key Findings

  • 01A co-designed unconference model can effectively challenge traditional, hierarchical conference structures.
  • 02Involving students as equal partners in the design process leads to more authentic and contextually relevant outcomes.
  • 03The critical-digital pedagogy framework supported transformative learning and equitable participation.
02

Application

Design takeaway

Shift from designing *for* users to designing *with* users to ensure events truly reflect and serve the needs of their intended audience.

How to apply

When planning any user-facing event, establish a diverse co-design team that includes representatives from your target audience. Use collaborative tools to brainstorm, prioritize features, and make key decisions together.

Project actions

  • 01Clearly define the roles and responsibilities of co-design participants.
  • 02Document the co-design process thoroughly to demonstrate user involvement.
  • 03Use visual tools and methods to facilitate communication and idea generation.
03

Method & Evidence

AimHow can a co-design approach, specifically involving both staff and students, create a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive event experience?
MethodCo-design Workshop
ProcedureA cross-disciplinary project team of staff and students collaboratively designed and delivered an 'unconference' focused on equity, diversity, and inclusion. This involved shared decision-making throughout the planning and execution phases, positioning all participants as equal contributors.
ContextAcademic/Educational Event Design

Variables

IV["Involvement of staff and students in the design process (co-design vs. traditional design)","Use of a critical-digital pedagogy framework"]
DV["Equity, diversity, and inclusion of the event","Participant engagement and ownership","Transformative learning"]
CV["Focus of the event (equity, diversity, inclusion)","Format of the event ('unconference')"]
04

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

  • +Directly involves target audience in the design process.
  • +Challenges conventional design approaches.
  • +Focuses on creating inclusive and equitable outcomes.

Limitations

The effectiveness of co-design can be influenced by group dynamics and the facilitator's skill. Ensuring genuine equity in a co-design process can be challenging.

Reliability & validity

The study's validity is strengthened by its focus on a specific, well-defined event and its clear articulation of the co-design methodology. Reliability might be a concern if attempting to replicate the exact dynamics of the 'unconference' and the specific 'critical-digital partnership'.

Think critically

To what extent can the principles of co-designing an 'unconference' be applied to the development of physical products or digital services, and what adaptations would be necessary?

05

Design Principles

"Empower stakeholders by integrating them into the design process to ensure relevance, inclusivity, and ownership."

Traditional event design often overlooks the diverse needs and perspectives of its audience. By adopting a co-design approach, practitioners can create more meaningful and impactful experiences that resonate deeply with participants, leading to greater buy-in and a stronger sense of community.

06

What This Means for Your Design

If you want to make an event (like a workshop or conference) really good for the people who will attend, ask them to help design it from the start. This makes it fairer and more useful for everyone.

How to use in your project

  • 1.Reference this study when justifying your use of user research and co-design methods to ensure your product or service meets user needs.
  • 2.Use the findings to support the argument that user involvement leads to more equitable and effective design solutions.
07

Add to My Project

08

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

The co-design approach, as demonstrated in research by Dianati and Hickman (2023), highlights the transformative potential of involving end-users directly in the design and delivery of events. By positioning participants, such as students and staff, as equal partners, it is possible to create more equitable, diverse, and inclusive experiences that challenge traditional, hierarchical formats and foster a greater sense of ownership and relevance.

09

Source

International Journal for Students as Partners

Co-designing an equity, diversity, and inclusion (un)conference by and for staff and students

journal · 2023

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about co-designing inclusive events elevates participant engagement and ownership?
Shift from designing *for* users to designing *with* users to ensure events truly reflect and serve the needs of their intended audience. Evidence: International Journal for Students as Partners (2023).
Why does "Co-designing inclusive events elevates participant engagement and ownership." matter for design?
Traditional event design often overlooks the diverse needs and perspectives of its audience. By adopting a co-design approach, practitioners can create more meaningful and impactful experiences that resonate deeply with participants, leading to greater buy-in and a stronger sense of community.
How can designers apply this research?
Shift from designing *for* users to designing *with* users to ensure events truly reflect and serve the needs of their intended audience.
What were the main findings?
A co-designed unconference model can effectively challenge traditional, hierarchical conference structures.. Involving students as equal partners in the design process leads to more authentic and contextually relevant outcomes.. The critical-digital pedagogy framework supported transformative learning and equitable participation.
What research method was used?
Co-design Workshop.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2023 journal from International Journal for Students as Partners.
What should I do differently in my next project?
When planning any user-facing event, establish a diverse co-design team that includes representatives from your target audience. Use collaborative tools to brainstorm, prioritize features, and make key decisions together.
What are the limitations?
The specific context of an academic 'unconference' may not directly translate to all event types. The success of co-design is highly dependent on the willingness and capacity of participants to engage actively.