Design to Redistribute Power
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Our Story
In North Texas, a group of changemakers grew tired of seeing social problems oversimplified and solutions designed in rooms that excluded those most affected. Shiny ideas and well-meaning programs often missed the mark—not because of a lack of effort, but a lack of connection.
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So they built something different: COACT, a Social Design Studio rooted in community, empathy, and equity. Formed by activists, designers, and advocates, COACT was created to respond to the complexity of modern social issues—poverty, food insecurity, health inequities—not by offering top-down solutions, but by co-creating with community. Their approach centers on human-centered design, systems thinking, and deep listening.
COACT doesn’t assume. It asks. It doesn’t prescribe. It partners. It doesn’t simplify. It reframes.
From urban farming in Southeast Fort Worth to trauma-informed design and equity workshops, COACT tackles problems by centering lived experience, building empathy, and designing solutions aligned to real needs—not assumptions. In a world eager for quick fixes, COACT reminds us that the most powerful change starts with listening—and that the best solutions are built with community, not apart from it.
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Our Mission
Together, we design community led systems change.​
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Our Vision
Together, we can design an inclusive and just future.
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Our Values
Design with Community: We value lived experience and work alongside those impacted by inequity to co-author solutions.
Design with Intention: We build a firm understanding towards the problems we aim to solve. By better understanding the challenges and the communities we serve, we can design better solutions.
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Design for the Long Run: We aim to create resilience. We share our insights, expand the capacity of those we aim to serve, and create assets that serve well beyond our engagement.
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Design with Hope: We embrace the belief that change is possible. This drives us to be persistent, creative, and resilient.
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How We Work
From projects, multi-year programs, or policy reform, COACT helps it’s partners create solutions alongside communities to create change and transformation. Through our work we embrace design as a problem-solving process that can turn insights and ideas into lasting impact.
We recognize the role design plays in influencing how services are delivered, how messages are communicated, how interventions are perceived, and how solutions are utilized. Design is not just about aesthetics, it's about creating equitable processes, breaking down complex problems, crafting solutions that meet people where they are at, and improving outcomes for the populations we aim to serve. Collectively, we help drive inclusive and equitable social change more effectively.
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Design through CoAct
COACT anchors it’s process with community. The process may not always be linear. As things change, we revisit subjects as insights emerge, build on lessons learned, and make the shifts needed to achieve our desired outcomes.
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Exploration: The exploration phase is about understanding the challenge, the people it impacts, the way it impacts people, and the contributing factors. During this phase, we help our partners create a clear definition of the challenge they aim to solve.
Discovery: The discovery phase about turning insights into ideas. It is an opportunity to reflect on the research, generate ideas, and hone our approach. During this phase we help our partners discover bold ideas, test tangible concepts, and tether alignments to the challenges we aim to solve.
Deployment: The deployment phase about turning bold ideas into action. During this phase we help our partners assess risk, define success, operationalize impact, and incubate successful solutions.
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