Design for Reconciliation: Co-designing a Peaceful Future in Post-conflict Zones in Colombia

Abstract

We consider the means by which the process of co-design can contribute to reconciliation among the various groups in a post-conflict zone. We propose that through collaboration to achieve a shared outcome, people find themselves in close physical, mental, and emotional proximity. Building a prototype together can also produce a sense of closeness through the shared artifact, which is itself a tangible reminder that cooperation can result in mutual benefit. In that sense, the co-design process serves as a metaphor for the larger process of reconciliation. To ground our discussion, we reference a two-week meeting of 85 people at the International Development Design Summit ‘Building Peace, Reconciliation through co-creation’, which took place six months after the unilateral disarmament of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. One of the designated territorial spaces for training and reincorporation, located near the village of El Capricho in the department of Guaviare, was the venue where former combatants hosted this Summit. We approach the design process using the Creative Capacity Building (CCB) methodology, which promotes design by the intended beneficiaries and users.