The idea

An online open source design network site dedicated to delivering improved, sustainable and innovative public services. The open source model – first developed in software – will provide a framework for cross disciplinary collaboration, peer review and the democratic development of services. It will create a platform for users to voluntarily contribute research, design methods, prototypes, ideas and new solutions to real-life issues. These contributions are fed back into the community where they can be adapted and built upon by others, peer reviewed and inspire future innovations.

What social need does it address?

We all need and use public services on a daily basis but have little involvement in their improvement or the introduction of future services. This site will create a forum for open discussion and idea sharing allowing future services to develop in a more democratic way. It will harness the collaborative skills and knowledge of a wide variety of experts and users who would not normally work together. It will also create a space for risk taking and avoid the creative anxiety that hinders the current development of public services.

What’s new about it?

There are currently no open source design networks in the UK. There is real lack of ways for designers to share knowledge with experts and practitioners in other fields and to share user research.

What inspired you?

International open source networks that currently operate in the fields of architecture, engineering and science and the amazing, tangible solutions that they have generated. A desire to get more designers involved in public service design. A belief that all design for public good should be shared and available to all to implement and build upon. The entire principal that we should have a creative commons.

Idea submitted by Kieran McCann

Kieran is a graphic designer who works across editorial, interactive, broadcast and exhibition design.