Designing Frameworks for Collaborations Between NGOs and Academia

Melioranski, Ruth-Helene and Fehér, Bori and Ventura, Jonathan and Kubinyi, Eva Liisa (2024) Designing Frameworks for Collaborations Between NGOs and Academia. In: P/References of Design. Cumulus conference proceedings series, 1 . Cumulus Association, Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design Budapest, Budapest, pp. 705-708. ISBN 978-952-7549-03-5

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Abstract

While the essence of social design varies between cultures and local contexts, two of its key features are working with and for local communities and partnering with stakeholders other than the industry. While many design researchers, practitioners, and educators work with NGOs, be they local and small-scale or structured global entities, working with NGOs is hard to define. Indeed, reflecting on the key writings of classic social design (Papanek, 1971 and Margolin, 2002, to name just two), we find key attributes that are debated at length, but the importance of working with NGOs in this sphere of design practice is far from ideal. Tromp and Vial (2022) offer several components revolving around adding to a broad and rather flexible ethical common good. First, care-driven activities for the well-being of underprivileged people. This component accentuates an active role in starting with empathy and care while aiming at communities that truly need the additional knowledge of design professionals. Second, responsiveness-driven activities for good governance. This approach is especially important during collaborations with civil servants, NGOs, and nonprofits in better addressing the needs of their beneficiaries. Third, political progress-driven activities for empowered citizens. Social justice, design ethics, participatory strategies, and politics-in-action are especially important when conducting joint projects with NGOs and local communities. NGO as a key partner differs immensely from other typical stakeholders. Due to its ideological nature, as well as its reliance on volunteers and pro-bono contribution, as well as its complex relation to industry and commercial venues, this all imbues working with an NGO with a unique layer. The workshop is aimed towards design researchers and educators working with NGOs in higher educational contexts. During the workshop, participants in a group setting familiarise themselves with two collaborative scenarios: 1) a student project with an established long-term partnership with a community center, and 2) a design research project with a new collaboration with a local NGO. After choosing one scenario, participants dive into planning the community engagement by thinking through a framework that is currently under development by the authors: the level of participation, the necessary context analysis, trust-building exercises, care-driven activities, emerging conflicting themes, as well as collaborative strategies and suggestions. The creation of the framework is also supported by a probe kit that encourages participants to create a three dimensional model of participation for discussing responsiveness. This creative planning exercise helps design researchers and educators carefully consider all elements prior to setting up a collaboration with an NGO. The proposed framework as a workshop could be organized among team members within relevant HEIs, design students, or with local NGOs. The reflective questions developed by the authors during the Change Agents, an EU-funded project, can enhance future partnerships by creating fairer collaborative processes.

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