Public Collaboration Lab (PCL) is both an action research project and a prototype for design-led collaborative action.
PCL explores the potential and value that can be generated through collaboration between a design university and the authorities in its local area, bridging the gap between design education’s learning objectives and local government’s operational objectives
Initially funded through the Arts and Humanities Research Council (2015 – 2016), this project continues to deliver collaborative projects in the local community that aim to raise awareness and change behaviours.
At PCL, we are actively seeking new partners and collaborators across the public, private and third sector, as well as academia. We undertake projects on a range of scales and themes, including (but not limited to) service design, behaviour change, public consultation, design for social innovation and organisational change. If you would like to discuss a potential project or find out more about how we can work together, please contact Adam Thorpe: a.thorpe@csm.arts.ac.uk
Explore our research structure and methodology on Figshare.
Prototyping participatory urban futures to demonstrate how culture, creative collaboration and wide engagement can unleash vibrant urban hubs of inclusive urban (re)generation, social innovation and enterprise
Working with local partners and the Public Collaboration Lab (PCL), our BA Product Design students inspired young people in Somers Town to design and develop eco-friendly product ideas that could be created and sold locally, with revenues returning to Somers Town Youth Centre and the young people involved in the project.
Exploring ways to improve households living in overcrowded conditions. MA Industrial Design students worked with residents and service providers to understand the challenges, needs and desires of people living with overcrowding, and design ways to address them.
MAKE is a public studio for creative collaboration and social innovation, formed with the local communities from Somers Town and St Pancras in Camden. The aim is to bring local people together with students and staff from Central Saint Martins to curate a programme of arts and creative activities.
MA Narrative Environment students collaborated with Camden Cabinet Members and young people to research and develop designs for youth hubs that could accommodate the newly configured council youth services.
In collaboration with council officers and residents of Kilburn Vale and Chalcots Estate in Camden, BA Product Design students, alongside tutors and PCL researchers, investigated ways to enhance the effectiveness of waste separation through innovative product design.
Reimagining Planning was a four-week design ‘sprint’ which brought together students, residents, planning officers, architects, developers, activists and design researchers to explore perspectives around planning engagement.
MA Industrial Design students, supported by design researchers and tutors, collaborated with council officers and librarians to design creative new ways to engage the public in sharing their visions for libraries of the future.
The Home Community and Library project connected postgraduate Service Design Innovation students from London College of Communication with home librarians. Together, they explored the future of the Home Library Service using service design thinking methods and tools.
To find out more about Public Collaboration Lab and the valuable work we do, explore our publications on UAL Research online: