Platform Co-op Development Kit

Equipping cooperatives for the digital age

UX UI 

2018-2019

Overview

Increasingly technology platforms that enable e-commerce, booking, and administration are leveraged in running businesses - and cooperatives are no exception. However, cooperatives can run differently than private businesses, especially around ownership and decision-making. This creates the need for different technology platforms to be used by cooperatives for their operations.

Background

The Inclusive Design Research Centre worked with the Platform Cooperative Consortium to build digital tools that supported its work of bringing cooperatives together, facilitating community dialogue around technology, and providing and recommending digital tools and research.

Goal

Visit the Platform Cooperative Consortium website

My role

Designer
Inclusive Design Research centre

Partner

Platform Cooperative Consortium from The New School

Collaborators

Inclusive Design Research Centre, Canada
Co-Rise Childcare Cooperative, USA
Self Employed Women’s Association, India
Cataki Informal Waste Collection, Brazil
Equal Care Co-op, UK

Outcomes

Through co-design with our collaborators, we identified three main tools that are needed to support co-op development:

  • Resource library: A collection of resources that support starting, growing, and converting to a co-operative.

  • Directory: A map and listing of co-operatives that are leveraging technology to grow and operate.

  • Tool library: Co-operatives have some fundamental differences compared to regular businesses in how they’re owned and operated, which requires unique tools and features. This is a place where co-ops can share the tech and tools they use to operate.

A family of tools

This website is the home for the Platform Cooperative Consortium out of The New School in New York. They play the role of a community convener and knowledge hub through research and conferences.

Platform Cooperative Website

The Resource Library contains both academic literature about the cooperative economy for researchers, and practical tools for cooperatives. The robust filtering system allows users to find the information they’re looking for.

Resource Library

Summary

This project resulted in a collection of tools for co-operatives to start, build, and grow their organizations and businesses. These tools include resources and shared stories, gatherings and conferences, and technology-based tools.