I am not sure that I have yet come across a design context where co-design has not been suitable, but there would be some situations where it can be easier or harder in terms of resources and access. Recruitment is often a challenge, you need to be able to access the right participants and find ways to encourage participation.

Particular kinds of topics require a lot of sensitive planning and care if they are, for example, very personal, stigmatised or perceived as boring. We need to think about how to make topics relevant and interesting as well as safe and engaging for participants. A real diversity of participants (e.g., in terms of different experiences and views) also requires careful planning to ensure the group is able to build a rapport together. Finding ways for remote participants to also play a role is another consideration.

Confidentiality and sharing of commercial concerns (e.g., IP developed or shared in the workshops or through the codesign process) also needs to be considered – though in most cases there are ways around these challenges if there is a sufficient commitment to the philosophy of codesign.