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I have 5 invites in my inbox to "co-create the future”.
I’ve architected, negotiated, led a lot of co-creation work. True co-creation. With stakeholders from diverse backgrounds (regionally, economically, politically, culturally) + some that hate each other.
What I've learned:
I’ve architected, negotiated, led a lot of co-creation work. True co-creation. With stakeholders from diverse backgrounds (regionally, economically, politically, culturally) + some that hate each other.
What I've learned:
Co-creation is not throwing a bunch of people into a space / process / initiative and expecting magic to happen.
That’s wishful thinking—and usually comes from a place of privileged myopia.
That’s wishful thinking—and usually comes from a place of privileged myopia.
Co-creation is not gathering ideas from a bunch of people, then figuring out what you do with them later.
That’s a consultation. One that is at best poorly planned, and at worst highly insulting.
That’s a consultation. One that is at best poorly planned, and at worst highly insulting.
Co-creation is not gathering inputs, realizing (inevitably) that most people don’t see eye-to-eye, so presenting a diluted synthesis or lowest common denominator “solution” as the answer.
That's a waste of everyone’s time—and how we abet mediocrity + sustain a toxic status quo.
That's a waste of everyone’s time—and how we abet mediocrity + sustain a toxic status quo.
So dear god please don’t call it co-creation unless you're willing to invest—to really, truly invest—in a process that:
1. Calls out + tackles power imbalances—and doesn't ask those with less power to perform their trauma for institutional attention.
Those w/ privilege must first do the damn work to figure out what’s broken. Those w/ lived experience then get to say what should be done about it.
Those w/ privilege must first do the damn work to figure out what’s broken. Those w/ lived experience then get to say what should be done about it.
2. Reckons with historical justices—and their present-day impacts. Because honestly, fuck "beginner’s mindset".
(Aside: I was raised Buddhist + am deeply insulted by the corporate design appropriation of this concept + its use to justify harmful, neocolonial, bullshit practices)
(Aside: I was raised Buddhist + am deeply insulted by the corporate design appropriation of this concept + its use to justify harmful, neocolonial, bullshit practices)
3. Leans into tensions, confronts controversy, and helps everyone (even avowed enemies) develop a shared point of view. THIS IS THE WORK!!!
It's damn tough. But we're grappling with power, upheaval, and renewal. If it's not hard and uncomfortable, it's probably not worth doing.
It's damn tough. But we're grappling with power, upheaval, and renewal. If it's not hard and uncomfortable, it's probably not worth doing.
4. Invests real resources in standing up what comes out of the process, whether those funding / sanctioning like it or not.
Power likes to hold on to power. Real structural solutions will challenge that. So do as much as you can to negotiate resources / signoffs in advance.
Power likes to hold on to power. Real structural solutions will challenge that. So do as much as you can to negotiate resources / signoffs in advance.
There’s so much interest now in co-creation. That's a good thing.
Because systems that enable and sustain injustice, inequality, oppression were intentionally designed. Futures that honour and protect justice, equity, liberation can also be designed.
But it requires all of us.
Because systems that enable and sustain injustice, inequality, oppression were intentionally designed. Futures that honour and protect justice, equity, liberation can also be designed.
But it requires all of us.
None of us on our own have the answers. Systems change requires communities, artists, activists, civil society, academics, governments, companies to reimagine together.
But we can't if all we get are co-opted processes + no real resources behind the emergent visions.
Do better.
But we can't if all we get are co-opted processes + no real resources behind the emergent visions.
Do better.
