Beneficiary-led design gives a voice and power to the very people that a charity is working to support. Charities are now working with beneficiaries on everything from designing materials, creating engaging digital content, through to designing physical spaces, and more. In this session, we heard about a variety of beneficiary-led design approaches, the triumphs and the challenges, as well as top tips and best practice on how to include beneficiaries in the design process.
Presentations
Paper, scissors and 8-year-olds – Matt Haigh, independent creative designer and director
Why teenagers should design your office – Lucy Taylor-Mitchinson, brand and marketing manager, YoungMinds
Helping people own their stories – Mike South, charity documentary filmmaker
- You can see notes from Mike’s presentation here.
Further reading resources
Article: How MQ put audience-centred design at heart of new research service launch – by Kathryn Excell, head of digital, MQ: Transforming Mental Health
Article: Personalising marketing and content to audience needs – Becca Thomas, digital communications specialist, Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis
Article: Use your ‘pack’: Harnessing the power of your supporters on social media – Tom Lillywhite, founder, Pack.org
Article: Bringing stakeholders on Rethink’s new website journey – Lara King, head of communications, marketing and membership, Rethink Mental Illness
Podcast: Engagement wasn’t built in a day – audience at the heart of campaigns with the NSPCC – Susheila Juggapah, senior digital supporter retention officer, Scope and Robyn Lewes, communications assistant, The Health Foundation
About the Creatives Group
This networking group is for professionals working in in-house creative teams (of one or more people) within UK charities and not-for-profits. It’s a gathering of creative leads, editors, publications managers, designers, production folk, content producers and more.
The group meets three times a year to focus on a common challenge. The format of the meetings is one or two presentations on a specific topic, followed by small group discussions, providing a combination of best practice and peer-to-peer sharing.
The events give you the chance to meet your peers, compare notes on workplace practices and share successes, ideas, challenges and inspiration. The group is designed to encourage networking and peer to peer support, sharing issues in a ‘safe’ environment.
If you’d like to be one of the first to hear about these events, please contact our events team to be added to the mailing list.
If you’re interested in presenting at an event, or joining the steering group, please contact Vanessa.