Co-Design Studio

Co-Design is a way of working that fosters shared creativity and collective problem-solving, enabling people to actively take part in shaping solutions or interventions that matter to them. Developing new products and services is becoming increasingly complex, because of the technology used, global competition and the interconnectedness of products, services and infrastructure. 

Successfully innovating products and services is not just about the smart use of technology and designing the things right, it is also about designing the right things. As we delve into the depths of the co-design field, we work on solving complex design challenges together with the target group and stakeholders, instead of for the target group. Next to that main topic of co-design, we’ll also have a strong focus on the following themes:

Social & systemic design

Social and systemic design are about exploring the context and stakeholders of the projects on different levels of abstraction. We make sure we include diverse stakeholders during the whole project, and we visualize what the connections between these stakeholders and elements in the complex systems are. In this way we try to understand the current system as good as possible, and we design for a better system.

Design research & creatorship

We design for two different goals: We design interventions to understand the system and we try to understand the system to design interventions for the system (yes, read that again). Therefore, we are constantly switching between the creator's role and the facilitator's role as a designer. We create experienceable concepts, low and high-fidelity prototypes and you will learn how to facilitate co-design sessions.

Impact & change

Systems can be very complex; you only have to turn a button, and everything can change. This can have an impact on different levels of abstraction and that is why we think it is important to consciously deal with the impact that an intervention will make in a system. Such complex projects therefore involve social considerations and considerations about sustainability and ethics.

Professional & personal growth

A 'concept' means something different to everyone. This is just one example, but it shows why we love to work in interdisciplinary and international teams: we want to learn from each other's 'worlds' and visions. Furthermore, we think it is important that you get started with shaping your own vision and becoming aware of who you are as a (design) professional. Drawing up a moral compass is also a part of this. Sometimes you are faced with ethical decisions, which choices do you make and why?

More information about the programme

This programme is offered to you by HU Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, their research group Co-Design, and is operated by Fundamentals Academy. Over 20 experienced professionals known for their skills in (product) design, user-centred design, user research, experience design, rapid prototyping, entrepreneurship, and organisational development, are directly connected to our studio and are supporting you throughout the programme. This means that during the programme we are well-connected, and our juniors benefit from this for the knowledge brought in is crisp and fresh.

Would you like to know more about this programme, or do you have a specific question? Please contact the programme coordinator, Kim van Veldhuijzen or check codesignstudio.nl.

During the programme you’ll build experience and expertise on involving your users and creating engaging concepts. In our 3 Design Projects, you’ll really get to work on a current case for one of our clients. During everything you do, our coaches will guide you through to make sure this will be one of the best programmes you will ever experience.

The frameworks of the minor exist of:

Projects for clients

We are working on 3 big projects. The first project is about co-design, the second project is about systemic design and in the last project you can select the best fitting approach. Last years, we worked for example for UMC Utrecht, Vanderlande, Municipality of Utrecht, Zero food waste (Orbisk), Hieroo, SAIL Amsterdam, and many others.

Workshops

During the workshops we offer you the opportunity to work with our coaches on a direct and personal level. We offer design related tools and methods, and you build experience and expertise on involving diverse stakeholders and creating impactful concepts.

Challenges

Sometimes we get the opportunity to join a one-week challenge, for example the Sustainable City Challenge or the Week of the Bedside Table. In these challenges you will run through the overall design process in a pressure cooker setting.

The international week

This is a week where all the juniors are sent to one of our international partners within Europe to collaborate for a few days on their project. We have been collaborating with f.e. Turku (FI), Warsaw (PL), Aarhus (DK), Budapest (H), Toulouse (FR), Aínsa (SP), Milan (IT).

(Life) Coaching

Personal and professional development is an important part of our programme. That's why we are focusing on this part for a full week throughout the 'War room week'. Next to that we offer personal coaching and some of our coaches are primarily focused on helping you articulate your professional growth.

Your professional portfolio

A portfolio is one of the signature deliverables. You're showing your overall quality as a design professional rather than realizing a set of objects/services. You can also use this portfolio when you are searching for an internship or a graduation project.

This programme is tough. Normally it took 40+ hours a week (when in doubt, please contact one of our alumni to confirm). Since 2023 we started to work on average 4 full days a week (in general Monday-Thursday from at least 09.30-17.30h, but sometimes we add a Friday) instead of 5 days, this means that you also have some time to work at your side job or see your friends. 

The exact schedule will be shared with you in the first week. 

Why do we work full days, do we expect you to be there and expect you to go for the extra mile? We believe that only with a lot of effort and attention from both you and us, we can do great things this semester. Unfortunately, this means that it's not possible to join us during this program if you can't be there 4 full days a week.

At HU, full-time education may be scheduled between 08:30 and 19:00h.

In our Course Guide you can find all relevant information about the programme in one practical document. Download it here for your convenience.

If you care about creativity and innovation, and you’re ambitious, you’re the one we are looking for! You need to have at least a propaedeutic diploma (issued after the first year of university studies).

We are offering this design programme to both designers (e.g. product design or communication multimedia design) and non-designers (e.g. health care students, business students, engineering students). Feel free to contact us for any information regarding the programme or how it will most benefit your development.

English CEFR level B2.

Please note: If your English language ability proves to be insufficient to participate actively in (parts of) the courses you have chosen, we cannot be bound to the Learning Agreement, neither can we guarantee to offer you the required amount of study load (EC’s). Teachers might request you to take a diagnostic test at the start of the course to check if your English language ability is sufficient to successfully participate in that specific course. In all cases it is up to the programme manager to decide if your English language ability is sufficient to be eligible for the programme/course.

For this programme, you should take into account additional costs of around € 500. This amount includes (among others): introduction days, accommodation and travel expenses for the international week and material costs.

Want to know about the programme? Visit our own website codesignstudio.nl.