Young 2.0: advancing an inclusive framework for co-creating futures with youth

Abstract

The ‘Young 2.0’ project is an exploratory design research endeavour focusing on youth participation in social transformation through co-creation. This study leverages an inclusive design research approach aimed at cultivating inclusivity and co-creating future service offerings and living environments that resonate with youth’s needs and aspirations. The future workshop framework was employed with the idea of encouraging critical assessment of current services and creative generation of future ideas and solutions. Through co-creative activities, the project captured insights into the lived experiences and future ambitions of young participants. The findings identify some of the entrenched norms and activities that spurred empathy and inclusive thinking through making and enactment. The main contribution lies in the initiatives strategies and methods aiming for youth to actively partake in shaping the future of their hometown, to share both explicit and implicit needs and aspirations. The ‘Young 2.0’ project serves as a microcosm of the potential inherent in co-design to serve as a conduit for youth to express and enact their visions for a more inclusive society. This paper provides an exploration of the project’s structure, methodologies, and outcomes, providing some insights into the processes of co-creation within community development and the empowerment of youth.