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The Promise of Co‐Design for Public Policy
Author(s) -
Blomkamp Emma
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
australian journal of public administration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1467-8500
pISSN - 0313-6647
DOI - 10.1111/1467-8500.12310
Subject(s) - normative , context (archaeology) , citizen journalism , meaning (existential) , participatory design , public policy , co design , public sector , public relations , business , sociology , management science , political science , public administration , economics , computer science , epistemology , operations management , economic growth , paleontology , philosophy , parallels , computer architecture , law , biology
As a novel method for creatively engaging citizens and stakeholders to find solutions to complex problems, co‐design holds great promise for policy makers. It has been vaunted as a way to generate more innovative ideas, ensure policies and services match the needs of citizens, achieve economic efficiencies by improving responsiveness, foster cooperation and trust between different groups, meaningfully engage the ‘hard to reach’, and achieve support for change. This article considers how we might determine whether co‐design has real potential to dramatically improve policy processes and outcomes. Drawing on relevant literature on participatory design, design thinking and public sector innovation, this review explores the meaning and potential of co‐design in the context of public policy. It highlights the philosophical underpinnings and normative implications of participatory design, and questions the feasibility of achieving the promised outcomes in the challenging context of contemporary policy making.