Get Started

The CoDesign Tool works in two formats: a physical paper version for in-person workshops, and a web app for remote collaboration. The method is identical in both. Choose the format that fits your context.

Before you start

What you need

The paper version is built for physical, hands-on collaboration. Print everything yourself at home, at the office, or at university. No software, no account, nothing special to buy.

A printer

Boards print on A3, cards and canvases on A4. A standard home printer works fine.

A surface

Any flat surface large enough to lay the two boards side by side. A table, a floor, or a desk all work.

2 to 6 participants

This is the range we found works best across our evaluation sessions.

At least 1 hour

A focused team can complete a full session in about an hour. Budget up to 3 hours for a thorough run with discussion time at each stage.

A case study to design around

This is not a material but a conceptual starting point. Before the session, agree on a heritage site, collection, object, or digital project your team will focus on.

The process

Step by step

Follow these steps in order. The instruction panels included in the download guide you through each stage in detail.

1

Download and print from Zenodo

Download the four PDF files from Zenodo. Print the boards on A3 and the cards and canvases on A4. Cut out the cards along the dotted lines.

Download from Zenodo
2

Set up the table

Read the instruction panels, then place the boards and canvases following the setup guide. Stack the three Phase 1 canvases on the Design Brief Board following the "stack here" signs.

3

Divide the cards

Separate the 242 cards into 6 colour-coded decks. Keep each deck face-down until its stage begins.

4

Run Phase 1: from your case study to the Design Brief

Work through Stages 1 to 4 one at a time. Each canvas is revealed as you lift the previous one off the stack, building the Design Brief incrementally.

5

Run Phase 2: from ideation to Storyboard

With the Design Brief complete, move to the second board. Work through Stages 5 to 7: Ideation, Disruption, and Storyboard.

6

Document the results

Photograph the completed boards and canvases. The Storyboard canvas is designed to be shared directly with stakeholders.

Learn

Video tutorials

The game overview is available now. More tutorials are coming soon.

Overview ···

How the game works

Coming soon
Phase 1 TBA

Running the Design Brief phase

Coming soon
Phase 2 TBA

Ideation, Disruption and Storyboard

Questions

Q&A

Not available yet. Answers are coming soon.

Q&A coming soon We are putting together answers to the most common questions about running a paper session. Check back soon.