Conference article

Growing attention has been paid to the potential value of design theory and practice in improving public services. Experience-based Co-design (EBCD) is a participatory research approach that draws upon design tools and ways of thinking in order to bring healthcare staff and patients together to improve the quality of care. Through a six-stage facilitated process; EBCD uses filmed patient narratives to promote change that is grounded in people’s experiences and engages participants in co-design activities to implement improvements. The co-design stage is a powerful and yet challenging one; as it requires both staff and patients to renegotiate their roles and expectations. When applied in the healthcare sector design approaches acquire a distinct political dimension by re-configuring the relationships of power between citizens and public services. From a critical review of approximately 60 EBCD projects; we reflect on lessons for effective participatory co-design approaches.

Experience-based Co-design; healthcare organisations; participatory design