Co-Design as a Framework for Community-Based Research

This project aims to research and establish Co-Design as the guiding methodology for community-based research within The SPARK Center. By studying interdisciplinary research practices from diverse disciplines across DePaul University, the goal is to develop a unique framework that supports equitable collaboration between academic institutions, industry partners, and community stakeholders. Phase one consists of a research publication showcasing community-based methods through case studies. Phase two integrates disciplinary knowledge into a bespoke Co-Design framework for SPARK Center partners.

Co-Design is a methodological framework for engaging with community members, institutions, and industry stakeholders throughout the entire cycle of a project. As opposed to traditional top-down, prescriptive approaches toward problem solving, Co-Design engages community members as equal collaborators — working together to identify appropriate problems, scale, and goals. As an emerging discipline within design research, rigorous scholarship is needed to expand on the processes, frameworks, and institutional knowledge necessary to engage in collaborative design.

Asymmetrical power dynamics proliferate throughout research programs. Community activists refer to detrimental initiatives as “parachute institutions” — organizations that engage with vulnerable communities on a short-term basis, then leave once their funding cycle is over. The SPARK Center has an opportunity to establish new standards with community partners and position DePaul as a leader in equitable, community-engaged research grounded in its Vincentian commitment to social justice.

Phase 1 consists of a general-audience research publication formalizing Co-Design methodologies through examination of adjacent disciplines. A series of case studies showcase diverse projects with community-based organizations, industry sectors, and non-profit institutions. The publication — produced in print via Risograph and online — reinforces a commitment to transparency and accessibility with community partners.

Phase 2 synthesizes case study methods and insights into a singular Co-Design framework for implementation with SPARK Center projects. A new toolkit is needed to support comprehensive social impact initiatives — this effect is magnified in fragmented communities dealing with systemic disinvestment. The framework will be shared throughout DePaul with faculty and students interested in community-based research, equitable design, and social justice.

This project will position Co-Design as a rigorous, interdisciplinary research method at The SPARK Center and DePaul University. By synthesizing existing community-based research practices, the aim is to create a sustainable framework grounded in equitable collaborations between the university and the communities it serves.

Expected outputs include an interdisciplinary Co-Design publication distributed to prospective SPARK Center partners, a bespoke Co-Design toolkit for community-engaged research, and new institutional relationships with faculty researchers across DePaul. The fellowship supports participant compensation and Risograph publication production at the Chicago Art Department.