Introduction: Rethinking Program Design
Traditional program design often happens in silos—funders set priorities, leadership makes decisions, and staff members implement strategies that may not fully account for on-the-ground realities. At Kinship Co-Lab, we take a different approach.
Our interactive program design process ensures that initiatives are built collaboratively, tested before full implementation, and continuously refined for impact. At the heart of this approach are Co-Creation Labs—structured, interactive sessions where stakeholders collaborate to design, test, and refine solutions.
This article explores our four-step program design process and takes a deep dive into Co-Creation Labs, their roots in Innovation Labs and Human-Centered Design (HCD), and how mission-driven organizations can use them to create more effective programs.
The Kinship Co-Lab Program Design Process
Our approach is iterative, engaging, and deeply collaborative. The four key phases are:
- Discovery: Conduct research, engage stakeholders, and clarify program goals.
- Co-Creation Labs: Bring together key players—staff, community members, and stakeholders—to design and refine solutions.
- Prototyping & Iteration: Test ideas on a small scale, gather feedback, and refine before full implementation.
- Implementation & Evaluation: Roll out initiatives, measure impact, and make data-driven improvements over time.
Among these phases, Co-Creation Labs are where transformation happens—shifting program design from a top-down process to an inclusive, collaborative experience.
Co-Creation Labs: A Deeper Look
What Are Co-Creation Labs?
Co-Creation Labs are structured workshops that bring diverse stakeholders together to collaboratively design solutions. Unlike traditional meetings where decisions are made by a few, these labs foster collective problem-solving, creative thinking, and shared ownership of outcomes.
Rooted in Innovation Labs and Human-Centered Design (HCD), Co-Creation Labs ensure programs are not just strategic but also practical and responsive to real-world needs.
The Roots of Co-Creation Labs
Innovation Labs: A Space for Experimentation
Innovation Labs emerged as a way to tackle complex social, economic, and environmental problems. Organizations like IDEO, MIT’s D-Lab, and Stanford d.school have pioneered this approach in diverse fields, from healthcare to education to urban planning.
Key features of Innovation Labs:
- Dedicated space (physical or virtual) for problem-solving
- Diverse, cross-sector participation
- Prototyping and rapid iteration
- Emphasis on real-world testing before scaling
Co-Creation Labs borrow from this model to help nonprofit and foundation teams think creatively and collaboratively.
Further Reading on Innovation Labs:
- MIT D-Lab’s Approach to Innovation
- IDEO’s Human-Centered Innovation Work
- Stanford d.school Design Thinking Resources
Human-Centered Design: Designing With, Not For
Human-Centered Design (HCD) is a problem-solving framework that prioritizes the needs and experiences of end-users. Its **three phases—Inspiration, Ideation, and Implementation—**align closely with Co-Creation Labs:
- Inspiration → Discovery: Understanding challenges from the perspective of those affected.
- Ideation → Co-Creation Labs: Generating and refining ideas collaboratively.
- Implementation → Prototyping & Iteration: Testing solutions in real-world conditions.
Further Reading on Human-Centered Design:
How Co-Creation Labs Work
Each Co-Creation Lab follows a structured flow to encourage participation and problem-solving:
- Framing the Challenge – Define the core issue in a solution-oriented way.
- Divergent Thinking – Brainstorm broadly, generating a wide range of ideas.
- Convergent Thinking – Synthesize ideas, identify patterns, and narrow down solutions.
- Prototyping & Feedback – Create low-risk, small-scale models of solutions and test them.
- Next Steps & Ownership – Assign action items, clarify roles, and determine follow-up plans.
By embedding these sessions into program design, organizations build solutions with buy-in from the start instead of relying on “black box” decision-making.
How Mission-Driven Organizations Can Use Co-Creation Labs
Nonprofits, foundations, and mission-driven businesses can integrate Co-Creation Labs into their strategic planning, program development, and community engagement efforts. Use cases include:
✅ Designing New Programs: Involving community members, funders, and partners in shaping program models. ✅ Improving Existing Initiatives: Using labs to gather real-world feedback and make improvements. ✅ Cross-Sector Collaboration: Bringing together government, nonprofit, and private sector partners to tackle systemic challenges. ✅ Strategic Planning & Visioning: Engaging teams in defining long-term goals and priorities.
Conclusion: The Future of Program Design is Collaborative
Programs that are co-created, tested, and refined with stakeholders are more effective, sustainable, and impactful. By embedding Co-Creation Labs into our process, Kinship Co-Lab ensures that the solutions we develop are rooted in lived experience, grounded in evidence, and built for real-world success.
If your organization is looking for a more collaborative, innovative approach to program design, let’s talk.
➡ Schedule a call to explore working with Kinship Co-Lab
Additional Resources
📖 Books & Reports:
- “Lean Impact: How to Innovate for Radically Greater Social Good” – Ann Mei Chang
- “Design Thinking for the Greater Good” – Jeanne Liedtka et al.
🎥 Videos & Courses:
- IDEO’s Introduction to Design Thinking (YouTube)
- Stanford’s HCD Crash Course (Free)
- Acumen’s Free Course on Social Innovation
📄 Tools & Templates: