Insights into transdisciplinary innovation: co-creating visual materials in social welfare
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Authors
Author (Corporation)
Publication date
17.12.2025
Type of student thesis
Course of study
Collections
Type
01A - Journal article
Editors
Editor (Corporation)
Supervisor
Parent work
Social Enterprise Journal
Special issue
DOI of the original publication
Link
Series
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Volume
Issue / Number
Pages / Duration
Patent number
Publisher / Publishing institution
Emerald
Place of publication / Event location
Edition
Version
Programming language
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Abstract
Purpose
This case study aims to trace a transdisciplinary development process in the context of social welfare that – taking a novel approach – addresses the issue where client’s rights and obligations to participate in the planning of personal and economic assistance come up against communication barriers.
Design/methodology/approach
Content analysis of conversation observations, documents and interviews with social workers and social assistance beneficiaries from four services allowed to identify potential development topics. Visual materials on 10 jointly selected topics were then developed in an iterative and co-creative process drawing on the expertise, experience and ideas of social service managers, social workers, clients of social services, a national umbrella organisation and – on the research side – social work and visual communication design.
Findings
From an innovation-specific perspective, the case study allows for discussion of topics such as development alongside day-to-day business, gatekeeping of professionals or the challenges of service user participation. Furthermore, the case analysis highlights key aspects relating to contextual conditions and the promotion of social innovation therein.
Originality/value
The present case study allows conclusions to be drawn about the challenges facing transdisciplinary innovation in a public, administratively structured and highly regulated area of human services and how these can be addressed. In addition to the potential for disruptions within the process, it is clear that creative endeavours can flourish through adequate funding, knowledge-based collaboration, planning that is closely aligned with the realities of the field, flexibility and a collective openness to learning.
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ISBN
ISSN
1750-8614
1750-8533
1750-8533
Language
English
Created during FHNW affiliation
Yes
Strategic action fields FHNW
Publication status
Published
Review
Peer review of the abstract
Open access category
Closed
License
Citation
Parpan-Blaser, A. (2025). Insights into transdisciplinary innovation: co-creating visual materials in social welfare. Social Enterprise Journal. https://doi.org/10.1108/sej-07-2025-0175