Designing energy solutions: a comparison of two participatory design approaches for service innovation

What is it about?

This paper compares two participatory design approaches to examine their utility in co-creating innovative service solutions for reducing household energy demand. Findings demonstrate that the key distinguishing features that set design thinking apart from co-design is extent of user involvement, solution diversity, and resource requirements. With a shorter duration and less intensive user involvement, co-design offers a more resource efficient means of solution generation. In contrast, design thinking expands the solution space by allowing for human-centered problem framing and in so doing gives rise to greater diversity in solutions generated. Understanding the benefits and expected outcomes across the two participatory design approaches will guide practitioners and funding agencies in the selection of an appropriate method to achieve desired outcomes.

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