The Co-Design Hub · Step 4 of 4
The practical bits: what to do before, during and after a session, the phrases and skills that help, and a short list of outside toolkits, books and organisations that are genuinely worth your time.
Short on purpose. The focus is on preparing well, running the room, following through, and the basic skills that hold it all together.
Know who’s coming, what support they need, what the session is for, and which decisions are genuinely open. Send information in plain language, check the space, prepare accessible materials, and sort the practical arrangements before the day.
Set out the shape of the session clearly, agree how the group will work, and keep checking understanding as you go. Make space for quieter voices, manage louder ones, and change the pace when the room needs something different from the plan.
Thank people quickly, share what was captured, pay people properly, explain what happens next, and come back when decisions are made. If the loop doesn’t close here, trust usually shrinks next time.
“Can I check I’ve understood that correctly?”
“I’d like to hear from someone who hasn’t spoken yet.”
“There are different views here, and that matters.”
“Here’s what happens next, and here’s what doesn’t.”
Listening properly, asking good questions, reading the room, holding space, keeping time without rushing, and pulling themes together clearly. These aren’t nice-to-haves. They decide whether people can actually take part.
Within 24 hours: thank people.
Within 1 week: share a summary.
Within 2 weeks: pay people.
Within 1 month: update on next steps.
When decisions are made: close the loop properly.
Three short PDFs to keep beside you. The guide for the thinking, and two tools for the moment someone says ‘we co-designed it’.
Discussion guide · 8 pages
The participation spectrum, the Double Diamond done together, the seven-question power test, eight conditions, and a 15-minute health check.
Read the guide →Tool 02 · 2 pages
Informing, consulting, involving or co-designing? One table, one useful question for each, and six signs you’re closer to the real thing.
Download the check →Tool 07 · 3 pages
Ten warning signs that participation may look better than it works. Tokenism is not always cynical; sometimes good people build a process with no power.
Download the test →A toolkit is only useful if it helps the work move. It shouldn’t create more process than the work needs.
Not a catalogue. Just the outside toolkits, books, articles and organisations we’d point you to first. Links open in a new tab.
Practical method libraries and frameworks.
Scottish Approach to Service Design ↗ IDEO Design Kit ↗ Liberating Structures ↗ Involve Resource Centre ↗Good starting points on co-design, power and facilitation.
Convivial Toolbox — Sanders & Stappers ↗ Design Justice — Sasha Costanza-Chock ↗ Emergent Strategy — adrienne maree brown ↗ The Art of Gathering — Priya Parker ↗On taking part, power, and when co-design is just for show.
A Ladder of Citizen Participation — Arnstein ↗ Beyond Sticky Notes — McKercher ↗ The Tyranny of Participation — Cooke & Kothari ↗ Voice is Not Enough — Lundy ↗Places to look for examples and practice.
Who Cares? Scotland ↗ Design Council ↗ Involve ↗ Snook ↗