Co-designing for Sustainability: Strategizing Community Carbon Emission Reduction Through Socio-ecological Innovation

Abstract

Designing for sustainability requires us to intentionally and creatively explore and implement radical changes in social as well as environmental arenas. This paper reflects on an interdisciplinary, action research project in which we applied principles and tools of co-creation to facilitate knowledge mobilization between three diverse stakeholder groups: community groups, local authorities (LAs) and academics from diverse disciplines. Our goal was the development of a Community Engagement Strategy for Carbon Emission Reduction for a Scottish Local Authority. Our methodological approach included ethnographic and participatory methods; seminars; strategy prototyping; and shared governance processes. It was concluded that our project provoked ‘social innovation’ by catalysing a value shift in the organizations involved, but that the concept of ‘socio-ecological innovation’ would be more useful in designing for sustainability. This project demonstrates the strategic role designers can play in transcending the constraints of the current consumerist paradigm to co-create a better future.

Keywords:

• co-design
• sustainability
• social innovation
• socio-ecological innovation
• climate change
• community
• local government

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and Local Authorities and Research Councils’ Initiative (LARCI), and to our partners in Fife Council, Sustainable Scotland Network, as well as other organizations and local communities for their active and enlightening participation in this project. Our colleagues Emilia Ferraro, Jennifer Franz and Neil Gateley informed our thinking in this area.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. This research study was funded within a programme called Engaging Scottish Local Authorities Programme, which was funded jointly by the UK’s Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and Local Authorities and Research Councils’ Initiative (LARCI) with at least 20% funding required from LA partners. The goals of the programme were to establish better relationships between universities and LAs and to promote applied and topical research in Scotland.

2. http://uscreates.com/2013/08/08/social-outcomes-vs-social-impact/

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rehema M. White

Rehema White’s research focuses on the theory and practice of sustainable development. She works on the governance of natural resources (including global North-South links, roles of community and local government, participation) and knowledge and sustainable development (including learning for sustainability, interdisciplinarity); and sustainability and art/craft (including co-design, and alternative livelihoods). She also explores integrative analyses and novel links across these different fields, drawing on her experiences across the natural and social sciences, and is engaged in practical action at local, national and international levels on specific sustainability issues.

Hamid van Koten

Hamid van Koten worked as a design consultant for many years before entering academia. He was a Programme Director of Design History Theory & Practice at the University of Dundee and then took up a post as Postgraduate Director at Plymouth College of Art. He left in order to focus again on design consultancy and to engage more deeply with conservation issues, community and sustainability. He now not only writes about eco-houses but also designs them.