A design-led model for kick starting social innovation in the public and third sector.
Founded at the beginning of 2008 ‘The Social Lab’ has been developed by thinkpublic as a rapid process for clarifying, supporting and developing concepts for solving social issues. The process uses design, creative thinking, relationship and business tools to bring people together to develop their problem solving, creative thinking and entrepreneurial abilities. Alongside this, the importance of their collective experience ensures that the co-development of solutions has relevance and mobilisation towards solving the selected social challenge.

This successful model of using design tools and processes to kick start social innovation has resulted in projects / social enterprise ideas such as:The Real Work Experience and The Good Gym.
There are currently three strands to The Social Lab: thinkpublic runs one every two months within their studio approaching selected social themes and inviting cross-sector participants to attend. Areas we have currently worked on are education, ageing, with obesity and teenage pregnancy in March and April 2009.

The Social Lab is also available for organisations to use to address their own internal challenges or to help build collaborative strategy or address social issue of a collective concern. Our clients so far include: Common Purpose’s Future Leaders Programme ‘TheKnow’, The Design Council and The British Council.

In 2009 The Social Lab is now going on tour, and I will be leading on building partnerships across the UK and particularly within local government to help generate social fuel within regional  communities.

For more information about participating in a thinkpublic hosted Social Lab or to find out how we can bring the Social Lab into your organisation or community contact me on : cassie.robinson@thesociallab.com