Facilitating co-creative meetings using a network model

Complex public health challenges cannot be solved by siloed problem-solving, and require innovative ways of fostering collaborative thinking, learning and action. This paper presents a collaborative approach for addressing such challenges through co-creative workshops called “Challenge Labs” that use a distributed network model of meeting to invite innovation. The “Challenge Lab” approach provides an effective framework for facilitating workshops that enable diverse stakeholders to play an active role in developing solutions to complex issues. It is grounded in four principles: identifying a common challenge; inviting diverse viewpoints; interacting as a network; and seeking co-creative solutions. This paper describes the theoretical underpinnings of this method, shares facilitation processes and presents examples of “Challenge Labs” hosted at a UK university, focused on public health issues. Outcomes from “Challenge Labs” have demonstrated the potential of this approach to foster innovative thinking, valuable collaborations, and systemic change in public health challenges. Key benefits of this methodology include greater agency and accountability for participants, and a shift in participants’ attitudes towards ways of addressing complex issues. The paper also discusses limitations and future development, including the need for long-term impact evaluation. The “Challenge Lab” methodology offers a promising approach for higher education institutions to create the conditions for solutions and collaborations to arise from multi-stakeholder workshops. This will contribute to the evolving field of approaches to complex and systemic societal challenges.