What sets us apart at Made Open is our long-standing experience working alongside UK communities to tackle complex social issues.
From frailty to falls prevention, poverty to poor housing, drowning to deprivation, human trafficking to housing, and dementia care to adult social care, our greatest strengths are listening with empathy and empowering people (including communities and organisations) to shape and deliver the change they want to see.
We know that lasting change depends not only on good ideas but also on behaviour change, trust and shared ownership of problems / solutions.
And we also know that communities have valuable local knowledge, trust and leadership capacity, but addressing larger-scale challenges requires additional resources, authority and institutional support. Communities are essential partners, though rarely the sole actors, in creating lasting change.
This is where design thinking matters.
Design thinking centres on designing with, not for, people and communities. It recognises that understanding a problem is only the first step. Lasting change happens when those affected are involved throughout the journey.
As Steve Jobs once said, "Design is not just what it looks and feels like. Design is how it works."
As experienced service designers, we can help you understand what people see, feel and experience; and turn those insights into meaningful actions and outcomes. Our work is guided by the following principles:
Design around the needs, behaviours and goals of real people.
Understanding what they need and why it matters to them.
De-risk innovation by testing ideas early and learning quickly.
Prototyping fast to see what works before investing heavily.
Create transformative solutions - not just small improvements.
Rethinking problems to unlock entirely new possibilities.
Alongside our consultancy work, we offer an award-winning community platform. This has supported organisations such as UKTI, NHS, the RNLI and the University of Southampton in the design thinking process - helping people connect around shared goals, exchange ideas, access resources and stay involved between events.
As a certified B Corp, we are committed to operating responsibly, reducing our environmental impact, and strengthening the communities we serve - because strong communities lead to better outcomes for everyone.
