Fostering CraftsDesign-Based Social Innovation in Rural Communities through Participatory Workshops

This article presents a designed participatory tool to foster sustainable social innovation in rural areas and enhance crafts-based transdisciplinary practices. The proposed method explores the possibilities of a conceptual framework that offers co-creation and community solutions, leveraging the power of crafts, cultural heritage, and local resources. The article presents the methodology and results achieved during three pilot workshops conducted with designers, design students, researchers and other experts during international design research conferences held in Málaga, Valencia and Lisbon between, November 2023 and April 2024. The participatory method emerged from a doctoral research project aimed at promoting sustainable and innovative solutions in rural areas and raising awareness about the role of crafts and design in driving positive change. The objective of the workshop was to test the proposed method and gather insights for applying the tool in real-world scenarios, promoting co-creation practices, and collaborative methodologies in rural areas. The workshop uses a toolkit that includes a canvas and a deck of cards, among other elements. The activity taught participants how to co-design solutions tailored to specific situations considering the crafts, tools, skills, and agents involved. Participants were trained in developing solutions for rural areas that address specific challenges and complex scenarios.