How can you design for social impact and inclusion in every step of the process?

Understanding the context is not possible without having the right players at the table. I was once given some advice, and it has stuck with me: "If the table you are sitting around does not look like the people you are trying to include for social impact, get up." Co-designing includes bringing partners to the table to share their context and this requires active listening from voices that aren't always part of the process. This may mean redesigning the process of understanding the context, but well worth it as a first and crucial step.

En mi experiencia es fundamental conocer el entorno, recibir retroalimentación de los que podamos identificar como principales agentes de interés. Empezaría por entender el factor social apuntando a las comunidades involucradas dentro del proyecto con foco de atención en sus costumbres y principales fuentes de interés. Para continuar trabajando en un dise?o asertivo buscaría involucrar a clientes y principales proveedores que tienen una huella en la zona de influencia del proyecto que estamos dise?ando de manera en que podamos enriquecernos a partir de diferentes puntos de vista. En zonas de bajos recursos, van a aparecer un sin número de oportunidades, me parece importante asignar un escalas de relevancia e impacto.

Perspective is critical to gaining context for social impact. While it 's hard for organisations to eliminate social costs, there's always room to drive scalable, social innovations which enable communities thrive. Systematic discovery through facilitated focus groups, consult with public, private and underrepresentated actors offer a means to deepen the terms of reference. Embracing human centred design principles allows advancement of benefits not only to the vulnerable; it may also elicit unforseen systemic, positive social impacts Remember Nanny McPhee? "There is something you should understand about the way I work. When you need me but do not want me, I must stay. When you want me but no longer need me, then I have to go"

The problem will only come out in ground work. Secondary sources will always reveal secondary results. It is imperative that we design separate strategies to validate our requirements. Activities like Focus group discussions, mystery surveys and primary interactions are conducted to decipher the context before accepting them.

1) Conducting interviews, surveys, and observations in a local community to identify specific challenges and needs. 2) Bringing in community members, advocacy groups, and individuals with lived experiences in the design team. 3) Designing a website or mobile app with features such as screen reader compatibility, voice command options, and adjustable font sizes to ensure inclusivity for users with disabilities. 4) Creating online forums or community meetings to collect ongoing feedback. 5) Forming partnerships with local NGOs or government agencies to amplify the impact. 6)Establishing a code of conduct for all team members, ensuring fair labor practices, and disclosing information about the project's environmental impact.

The definition of problem will lead to the other activities that go towards working on the solution. The definition needs to cover every aspect, big or small in nature and the impact it causes. Understanding the impact of the problem will always help in prioritising the solution implementation. Further on, it becomes even better if the problems are related to UN SDG or other frameworks. The relation will invite minds from different fields in coming together to solve.

Me parece importante que la oportunidad de cerrar una brecha se pueda cuantificar para poder medir el impacto, que los impactos -positivos o negativos- sean trazables para lograr ver la evolución y los plazos para ir cerrando las etapas que se determinen. La definición del problema puede ser sostenida a partir de información histórica de las zonas especificas donde se desea implementar el proyecto y zonas similares en otras geografías.

After gathering data, define the problem clearly using tools like problem statements, personas, user stories, and journey maps. Articulate users' needs, goals, and challenges. Consider broader impact and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals or similar frameworks for social change.

After collecting data, define the problem clearly using tools like problem statements, personas, and journey maps to understand user needs. Consider broader implications and align the problem with the UN Sustainable Development Goals or other social change frameworks. This ensures a focused and holistic perspective, facilitating the development of solutions that address users' needs while contributing to broader positive impacts.

Pr?zise Problemstellung: Formuliere das Problem so konkret wie m?glich und achte darauf, wie es soziale Wirkung und Inklusion beeinflusst. Benutzerzentrierter Ansatz: Verwende Tools wie Personas und Journey Maps, um die Bedürfnisse und Herausforderungen der Benutzer:innen zu verstehen. Integriere diverse Perspektiven für eine umfassende Analyse. Ganzheitliche Perspektive: Betrachte die breiteren sozialen Auswirkungen des Problems, verknüpfe es mit nachhaltigen Entwicklungszielen und f?rdere soziale Gerechtigkeit in deinen L?sungsans?tzen.

Diverse Perspektiven einbeziehen: Integriere verschiedene Stimmen und Perspektiven in den Ideengenerierungsprozess. Diversit?t f?rdert innovative L?sungsans?tze und stellt sicher, dass verschiedene Bedürfnisse berücksichtigt werden. Frühzeitiges Prototyping: Erstellen Sie frühzeitig Prototypen oder Modelle Ihrer Ideen, um diese greifbar zu machen. Das erleichtert nicht nur die Kommunikation im Team, sondern erm?glicht auch schnelle Tests und Verbesserungen. Inkrementelle Verbesserung: Setzen Sie auf stufenweise Verbesserung. Brechen Sie komplexe Probleme in kleinere Teile auf und konzentrieren Sie sich darauf, schrittweise L?sungen zu entwickeln. Dies erm?glicht eine effiziente Optimierung im Laufe des Prozesses.

Creo que, además, es importante involucrar a los posibles beneficiarios a través de talleres de trabajo. Me parece importante apostar porque los grupos sean diversos e inclusivos, dando respeto a tod@s los involucrados para aportar, desde la perspectiva de cada uno, con distintos puntos de vista de manera en que el espacio sea mas enriquecedor, se generen discusiones y aparezcan ideas. Si la lógica va en el orden de generar ideas a partir de grupos de trabajo, el moderador es una pieza fundamental para lograr facilitar los espacios y extraer ideas que generen valor.

Generate numerous ideas for potential solutions using brainstorming, mind mapping, sketching, and prototyping. Prioritize testing and refining ideas based on criteria like feasibility, desirability, viability, and sustainability. Encourage creativity and collaboration among your team and users.

In my experience, most of the times, I've found that the idea to solve a problem is existing within the client side. It is just that no one has been able to define it well. It is utmost important that we create an idea harvesting platform for collaboration in any social impact scenario.

Generate diverse ideas for potential solutions using techniques like brainstorming, mind mapping, and prototyping. Encourage creativity and collaboration within your team and among users. Test and refine ideas based on feedback and criteria such as feasibility, desirability, viability, and sustainability. This iterative process ensures a comprehensive exploration of possibilities and leads to solutions that align with user needs and broader goals.

Select the best idea that aligns with user needs, stakeholder expectations, and project objectives. Use decision matrices, scoring cards, or voting systems to evaluate and compare ideas. Involve users and stakeholders in the selection process to ensure diverse perspectives. Document and justify your decision, communicating it clearly to your team and users. This systematic approach ensures a well-informed and collaborative decision-making process.

Partizipative Entscheidungsfindung: Beziehen Sie Benutzer:innen und Stakeholder:innen aktiv in den Auswahlprozess ein. Berücksichtigen Sie diverse Perspektiven, um sicherzustellen, dass die ausgew?hlte L?sung die Bedürfnisse verschiedener Gruppen adressiert. Soziale Auswirkungen bewerten: Integrieren Sie Kriterien zur sozialen Nachhaltigkeit in Ihre Bewertung. Analysieren Sie, wie jede L?sung zu sozialer Gerechtigkeit beitragen kann und welche Auswirkungen sie auf unterschiedliche Gemeinschaften haben k?nnte. Transparenz und Kommunikation: Dokumentieren Sie Ihre Entscheidung sorgf?ltig und kommunizieren Sie transparent, warum die ausgew?hlte L?sung als die beste betrachtet wird.

Implement your solution with a well-planned strategy, considering methods like pilot testing, scaling up, or launching. Measure and report outcomes using indicators like user satisfaction, social value, environmental impact, or cost-effectiveness. Collect and analyze feedback from users and stakeholders to continuously improve your solution. By following these steps, you design for social impact and inclusion, creating meaningful, effective, and sustainable solutions.

Consider the long-term sustainability & impact of the design. This involves thinking about how the product or service will evolve over time and its enduring social footprint. In my leadership roles, I've emphasised creating solutions that not only address immediate needs but also contribute to long-term social and environmental well-being. Establish robust feedback mechanisms to continuously improve the product or service. This includes post-launch monitoring & evaluations. In my experience, this is critical for ensuring that the solution remains relevant and effective in addressing social challenges. Collaborate with community organisations & NGOs that have direct insights into the needs of diverse groups.

Effective communication is pivotal when implementing solutions with social impact. It fosters understanding, garnering support and involvement from diverse stakeholders. Clear messaging ensures alignment with community needs and values, minimizing unintended consequences. Transparent communication builds trust, crucial for successful, long-term sustainability initiatives. Regular updates and feedback loops enable adaptive strategies, enhancing responsiveness to evolving challenges. In essence, communication acts as the linchpin, connecting actions with aspirations, and forging a collaborative path towards lasting positive change.

Measuring the impact is a crucial step often overlooked in designing for social inclusion and impact. Quantifiable metrics, like Social Return on Investment (SROI), offer a tangible way to assess effectiveness, ensuring that solutions not only address immediate needs but also contribute to long-term sustainable change. By integrating tools like SROI, organizations can align their strategies with broader social goals, making their initiatives more meaningful and accountable. This approach not only validates efforts but also guides future improvements, fostering a culture of continuous learning and adaptation