Too often, technology is created by a small group of developers and rolled out to communities who then discover the barriers. Co-design flips that script. It brings people with lived experience — especially those who are typically excluded — into the design process from the start.
Why It Matters
Real-world fit: Users define the problems and test the solutions.
Equity lens: Marginalized groups shape tools that reflect their needs.
Trust-building: Communities are more likely to adopt tech they helped create.
Innovation: Diverse input often sparks creative solutions designers wouldn’t think of alone.
Canadian Context
Accessibility legislation: The Accessible Canada Act pushes for inclusive design, but enforcement varies.
Indigenous tech projects: Co-design is emerging in broadband access, digital archives, and language revitalization tools.
Municipal pilots: Some cities are testing participatory tech design for services like transit apps or civic engagement platforms.
Academic partnerships: Universities and colleges increasingly embed co-design in digital literacy programs.
The Challenges
Tokenism risk: Inviting users too late in the process, or ignoring their input.
Time and cost: True co-design takes longer and requires investment.
Power dynamics: Developers and institutions must share control — not always easy.
Representation: Ensuring all voices are heard, not just the loudest.
The Opportunities
Community labs: Spaces where citizens and technologists build solutions together.
Funding models: Grants that require proof of co-design before approval.
Open-source tools: Shared projects where contributions come from a wide range of users.
Policy shifts: Governments can set co-design as a standard for digital public services.
The Bigger Picture
Inclusive technology isn’t charity — it’s good design. By co-creating with those most affected, Canada can ensure digital tools strengthen equity rather than deepen divides.
The Question
How can we make co-design the norm in Canadian tech development, so inclusion is baked in from the start instead of patched on later?
Co-Design and Inclusive Tech Creation
Designing With, Not For
Too often, technology is created by a small group of developers and rolled out to communities who then discover the barriers. Co-design flips that script. It brings people with lived experience — especially those who are typically excluded — into the design process from the start.
Why It Matters
Canadian Context
The Challenges
The Opportunities
The Bigger Picture
Inclusive technology isn’t charity — it’s good design. By co-creating with those most affected, Canada can ensure digital tools strengthen equity rather than deepen divides.
The Question
How can we make co-design the norm in Canadian tech development, so inclusion is baked in from the start instead of patched on later?