8 ways to co-design for all personalities

To get the most out of a diverse group of stakeholders with different personalities, we need to offer multiple ways for them to participate. Not everyone will speak up in a room or on a zoom call. Not everyone will read or do the follow up activity. Not everyone will jump in and try using Miro for the first time in front of their peers. Not everyone can read a flow chart, visualise a page design from a copy deck, comprehend a cohesive tool from designs.

To create a genuinely inclusive co-design experience, we tailor our approach to suit different working styles, preferences, comfort levels and schedules.

Ways to participate

That means offering a flexible mix of formats and participation modes, such as:

• Live sessions: for those who thrive in real-time collaboration

• Offline or take-home tasks: for those who prefer time to reflect

• Messaging channels: for ongoing questions, idea sharing, and asynchronous input

• 1-on-1's and drop-in times: to provide space for individual conversations

• A mix of mediums: from paper-based to digital tools (like Slido or Miro) and even audio-only activities

• Diverse task formats: abstract vision setting tasks through to defining product and service details

• Both moderated and unmoderated activities: to support structured and self-guided contribution

• Unstructured time: to give participants free reign, time to explore ideas, which is often where the magic happens

Sometimes we’re designing with five participants, sometimes it’s in the hundreds. Choosing the right mix of activities over a project timeline ensures we give all participants the opportunity to bring their experience and ideas to the project.