Landscape Institute Journal, Summer 2023

As part of the ‘Towards Spatial Justice’ project, DSDHA have been researching the value of co-design in the public realm, particularly its role in negotiating social and spatial inequalities. Co-design is a process that adopts an intersectional lens to address the multiple crises in health, race, climate and others in design. It priorities design that is regenerative and empowers inhabitants to actively shape their built environments. These processes create places where communities feel a sense of belonging and ownership.

The article works to demystify the co-design process by addressing three main myths:

• Community engagement is a one-off event
• An accessible space equals an inclusive space
• People can’t co-design

Concluding with an analysis of the output of co-design at White Horse Square, the article demonstrates how co-design can provide innovative, sustainable, and inclusive solutions for urban spaces, reflecting the needs and aspirations of the communities they serve.