UBC Transformative Health & Justice Design Jam

VDN Leads

Jesi Carson & Lana Klok

Client

“The Transformative Health and Justice Research Cluster is a peer-led, interdisciplinary, and cross-sectoral research network catalyzing equity-oriented studies at the interface of health and justice. We apply strength-based research approaches for decolonizing, anti-stigmatizing, and culturally safe engagement, policy development, and community advocacy for and with people who are impacted by the criminal legal system.​” 

The THJRC approached the VDN to shape and facilitate their hybrid community engagement event with 20-25 research cluster members on November 27th 2023 from 6 PM till 9 PM. The goal of the event was to create a better mutual understanding of what the cluster stands for and how all projects support the direction it is moving towards.

Design Jam Objectives

1. Create space to share and connect: Opening by an Indigenous Elder and facilitated opportunities for members to highlight aspects of their projects.
2. Co-create on goals and vision: Interactive format to refresh and clarify research cluster goals, and formulate a value-based vision that helps to formulate steps forward.

Process

Lana and Jesi applied the “double diamond” design process and facilitated a series of activities to draw out key findings and strategic directions for the research cluster. The double diamond design process helps to structure each jam, which ensures we can move through one or two iterative cycles of divergent and convergent thinking. 

Highlights from the design jam included a sharing circle, where participants had been asked to select three metaphor cards from a wide selection of options and reflect on how these visuals connected to their work with the research cluster. We documented the findings from the circle on the wall with post-it notes, and synthesized them live, so that participants could peruse these findings during the break and select keywords to bring to group work. The design jam culminated in a hypothetical front page newspaper layout, detailing potential outcomes and visions for the future of the cluster.

Outcomes

VDN leads produced a detailed summary report, including several key recommendations for next steps that can be undertaken by the research cluster. Please contact us if you are interested in viewing the report.