The Ripple Framework: Co-Producing Social, Cultural, and Economic Value in Care Through a Generative and Relational Approach

Work has been undertaken in the healthcare sector to explore ways of co-producing design responses with different communities and organisations. However, we lack empirical analysis of how design thinking can help tackle complexity. To assist the Healthier Working Lives programme, we curated the Ripple Framework to develop trust and attempt to address the challenges of complexity in residential care. Through a generative design process, data were used to collaboratively define bespoke co-design pathways with 31 participants from six Scottish care providers over ten months. Thematic, content, and matrix analyses produced insights to inform vignettes illustrating how design responded to complex social care sector needs, with a particular focus on the fulfilment and flourishing of the care workforce. Drawing on our empirical material and using the Design Research Value Model, we illustrate how we have developed social, cultural, and economic value in care through co-design, enabling an opportunity to test the novel methodology.