Co-Design for Impact
Transform how your organisation approaches complex social challenges through evidence-based co-design methodologies.
In a world where traditional top-down approaches fall short, the most pressing social and environmental challenges require us to design with communities, not for them. Our Co-Design for Impact programme equips you with the frameworks, tools, and confidence to facilitate meaningful collaboration that creates lasting change.
Course Details
Duration: 2 × 3.5 hour sessions
Format: Online or in-person
Investment: Starting at $10,000 for up to 20 people.
Enquire about co-design for impact training for your organisation.
The Challenge We're Addressing
The problems facing our communities today are interconnected, nuanced, and deeply human. Climate change, inequality, healthcare access, housing security—these aren't technical problems waiting for technical solutions. They're wicked problems that require us to think systemically, act collaboratively, and design with humility.
Traditional consultation often extracts insights from communities without sharing power or ownership of solutions. Co-design flips this dynamic, creating space for genuine partnership where diverse perspectives shape both the problem definition and the path forward.
At Paper Giant, we've spent years refining co-design approaches across government, healthcare, and social services. This programme distils our learnings into practical frameworks you can implement immediately.
Who This Programme Serves
Social Impact Leaders
You're responsible for strategy and outcomes but know that sustainable change requires buy-in from the communities you serve. You need approaches that build trust whilst delivering measurable impact.
Service Design Practitioners
You understand design thinking but want to deepen your practice around power dynamics, cultural competence, and systemic change. You're ready to move beyond surface-level engagement.
Policy and Programme Developers
Your work affects real people's lives, and you want to ensure their voices genuinely shape the policies and programmes that impact them. You need practical tools for meaningful engagement.
Community Organisation Leaders
You're closest to the challenges but may lack formal design training. You want to facilitate better collaboration within your community and with external stakeholders.
What You'll Learn
Session 1: Foundation and Framing
Understanding Complex Problems
- Identifying and working with wicked problems
- Systems thinking for social change
- Moving from symptoms to root causes
- Cultural competence in problem framing
Designing for Genuine Participation
- Power dynamics in collaboration
- Inclusive facilitation techniques
- Creating psychological safety across difference
- Accessibility considerations for diverse participants
Building Your Co-Design Foundation
- Stakeholder mapping and relationship building
- Setting intentions and boundaries
- Resource planning and timeline development
- Ethics and consent in collaborative work
Session 2: Practice and Implementation
Facilitation Skills in Action
- Story collection and synthesis techniques
- Collaborative ideation and prototyping
- Decision-making frameworks for groups
- Managing conflict and difficult conversations
From Ideas to Implementation
- Testing and iteration with communities
- Implementation planning with stakeholder buy-in
- Evaluation frameworks that centre participant voice
- Sustainability and long-term relationship building
Creating Change in Your Context
- Adapting co-design to organisational constraints
- Building internal capability and culture change
- Measuring impact beyond traditional metrics
- Personal action planning and next steps
Our Approach
Experience-Based Learning
Every tool and framework we share has been tested in real-world contexts. You'll hear honest accounts of what worked, what didn't, and how we adapted our approach based on participant feedback.
Practical Application
Rather than abstract theory, you'll leave with templates, conversation guides, and planning tools you can use immediately. We'll work through case studies relevant to your sector and context.
Reflective Practice
Co-design isn't just about methods—it requires ongoing self-reflection about power, privilege, and positionality. We'll create space for honest conversation about the challenges of this work.
Community of Practice
You'll connect with other practitioners grappling with similar challenges. We facilitate ongoing peer learning beyond the formal programme through our alumni network.
The programme completely shifted how I think about consultation. I finally understand the difference between extractive engagement and genuine co-design. The tools are practical, but more importantly, I now have language for the ethical dimensions of this work
— Senior Policy Advisor, Victorian Department of Health
As someone who's been doing community development for years, I thought I knew about participation. This programme helped me recognise where I was still holding onto control and how to truly share power in design processes.
— CEO, Western Melbourne Community Centre
The facilitators brought such honesty about their own learning journey. It felt safe to acknowledge where I'm still growing rather than pretending to have it all figured out.
— Research Director, Social Innovation Research Institute
Resources You'll Receive
1. Co-Design Toolkit
Comprehensive guide including facilitation scripts, workshop templates, stakeholder mapping tools, and evaluation frameworks—all tested across multiple contexts and refined based on participant feedback.
2. Case Study Library
Detailed case studies from Paper Giant's work across government and social services, including honest reflections on challenges encountered and lessons learned.
3. Ongoing Support
Three-month access to online community platform, and additional monthly virtual drop-in sessions and one-on-one coaching call to support implementation are negotiable.
