Design for Policy workshops for ECRs, design researchers and policymakers

Researchers Louise Mullagh, Emmanuel Tsekleves and Mariana Braga  have been working with the UNU-IIGH to develop a series of workshops that introduce design for policy to early career researchers, design researchers and policy makers around the world.

When developing policies, researchers and policymakers face unique challenges in addressing complex issues. These issues require creative and innovative solutions; hence, in recent years, design experimental methods such as rapid prototyping, speculative design and co-design have been introduced into the policymaking process to engage a more comprehensive array of stakeholders. This year, UNU-IIGH, Imagination Lancaster (Lancaster University), and the Design Research Society Global Health and Policy and Governance Special Interest Groups will launch a workshop series focused on the theme ‘Design for Policy’, which is a creative approach to problem-solving and a useful method to engage stakeholders in the policy process.

The three-part workshop series will kick start in April 2021 – each workshop will target one of three main audience groups: early-career professionals, design researchers, and policymakers. The aim of this first workshop is to introduce early-career professionals to the principles of Design for Policy and some of its key benefits. Highly interactive, you will be introduced to examples of how design is used in the development of policies, by quickly developing and testing policy ideas to inform the policy-making process.

This is a unique opportunity for early-career professionals from all fields to come together to explore this emerging and exciting field of research. This workshop focuses on how to inform policymaking through design methods, particularly in areas that have been highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

To participate, please register here: https://go.unu.edu/vHp2J.