The Experienced Based Design Approach goes national

This month sees the national roll out of the experience based design approach toolkit we developed in partnership with the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement. We're so pleased that the lessons we learnt working with patients and staff at Luton and Dunstable Hospital will be shared with NHS Trusts across the country.

A patient-led NHS is easy to say but hard to do. At thinkpublic, we're proud to be doers as well as thinkers, and we're even prouder of the lasting, productive and collaborative relationship we helped to build between patients and frontline staff at Luton and Dunstable. Now we're looking forward to helping NHS Trusts everywhere harness the power of their most valuable asset - their service users.

Government dementia strategy launched

Back in 2007, thinkpublic's co-design project with the Alzheimer's Society, Alzheimer100, helped us understand that guiding people diagnosed with dementia to the medical and social services designed for their needs means they can continue to lead fulfilling lives.

We're delighted that our recommendation for a dementia information service has now been written into the Government's National Dementia Strategy. Now we're working with the Alzheimer's society to help them implement the strategy.

The story of co-design

Not everyone understands what putting people in charge of shaping the future of the services they use really means. So we made a short animation to explain our co-design process. Watch it here, and if you like it, please feel free to share it with your colleagues and friends.
(You can also watch it on Vimeo)

Invite the Social Lab to visit your organisation

thinkpublic's Social Lab helps train people in creative thinking, entrepreneurship, and collaborative working. Using tools and techniques from the world of design, we can help you develop new approaches to the social challenges that face your organisation. To find out how the Social Lab could work for you, contact training@thesociallab.com.

British Council thinks public

We're deeply proud of our founder and Director, Deborah Szebeko, for winning the British Council's prestigious UK Young Design Entrepreneur Award. The judges commended "her unique achievements in marrying design with the public sector in a tremendously valuable, straightforward and no-nonsense way." Well done, Deborah!

Us Now starts worldwide tour

thinkpublic's Ivo Gormley will be wowing audiences worldwide with his film about the power of mass collaboration, Us Now. The film has already been well-received in London, will be screened in locations including Toronto, Oslo, Berlin, Brussels and New York over the coming weeks and months. Londoners will have another opportunity to see it next week at the Barbican.

Pitch Your Project shortlisted for Impact award

Pitch Your Project, part of our collaboration with UK volunteering charity TimeBank, was shortlisted by the NHS Centre for Involvement for an Involvement to Impact (i2i) award last November. The Dragon's Den-style events encourage people to suggest new volunteering opportunities within healthcare. Foundation Trusts in Hampshire and Manchester are running two more pitch days in March - visit the Journeys to Health website to find out more.

"Designers don't just do dresses"

Deborah published an article in October's Health Service Journal, outlining how design can drive improvements in healthcare. The article talks about the methods we use, and the positive results they bring. If you haven't already seen it, you can read it here.