We led a community co-design programme on the Pengegon estate as part of the Design Council's DOTT Cornwall programme.
Working with local residents and community groups, we explored the feasibility of a community centre in the estate and examined how community-led ideas could shape future improvements.
Made Open achieved in six weeks what others have failed to achieve in 10 years.
Tarn Lamb, CEO, Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change
A key priority was ensuring community voices genuinely shaped future plans. Many residents had experienced consultations before but felt outcomes were often decided elsewhere.
We designed engagement activities that met people where they already gathered, through community events and informal workshops rather than relying solely on formal meetings. Activities encouraged families, children and young people to take part, making participation enjoyable as well as meaningful.
This approach helped surface everyday concerns and aspirations that traditional consultation methods often miss.
To ensure everyone could participate, we used creative and hands-on co-design techniques that allowed ideas to be expressed visually and collaboratively.
Children and families explored what facilities and activities mattered most to them, helping shape conversations around shared spaces, services and opportunities for young people.
These sessions ensured that future plans reflected everyday community experience, not just professional assumptions.
One memorable activity invited participants to build a model of their ideal community space using everyday materials in a playful and collaborative way. This exercise allowed residents, particularly children, to imagine how spaces could function, from meeting areas to play and activity zones.
The activity demonstrated how creative methods can unlock participation from people who may not normally engage in planning discussions, turning abstract ideas into tangible proposals.
Alongside public activities, we worked with residents and local service providers to map existing services and identify gaps and opportunities for collaboration.
Facilitated discussions helped participants move from individual concerns to shared priorities and practical next steps. These conversations explored:
This process ensured proposals were grounded in both lived experience and practical delivery realities.
Understanding everyday neighbourhood conditions was essential. Pengegon faces long-standing social and economic challenges, and residents were keen to see improvements that would benefit families and young people in particular.
Grounding proposals in real community experience ensured the project focused on practical improvements that mattered to residents.
The co-design process delivered outcomes beyond physical proposals.
This project demonstrates how structured co-design can move communities beyond consultation fatigue toward collective action. By making participation accessible, creative and practical, communities are able to shape solutions reflecting real local needs.
Our role as facilitators ensured the process remained inclusive and collaborative, creating foundations for ongoing community-led improvement.
