Everything deserves beauty, no matter how serious it is.
KA McKercher
Founder, Beyond Sticky Notes
About This Episode
In this episode, Matt and Tenille speak with KA McKercher, founder of Beyond Sticky Notes and author of the book of the same name. KA unpacks why good co-design is as much about beauty, choice and relationships as it is about methods — and why, most of the time, communities don't need a brand new project, but rather someone to notice, strengthen and support what's already there. It's a generous conversation about power, preparedness, endings, seasonality, and what it takes to do this work with care.
Key Takeaways
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1
Start by noticing what's already there
Communities are always practising design — to keep each other alive, for joy, for family. Most of the time we don't need to start something new; we need to notice, strengthen and support the work already happening.
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2
Purpose can hide power
"Whose purpose is this?" is one of the most important upstream questions. Too often, projects service the status quo rather than disrupt it — and communities are handed questions they don't actually care about.
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3
Choice and access are non-negotiable
Genuine choice — about whether to join a workshop, speak verbally, work in a group, or contribute nonverbally — is dignifying. If we don't build disability justice into co-design, we exclude whole bodies and minds from the start.
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4
Endings matter as much as beginnings
The "co" in co-design carries an implicit promise. Good practice means staying with relationships beyond the output, and doing endings with dignity — including being honest when something isn't going to happen.
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5
Seasonality shapes good work
There are geographic seasons (don't launch in December) and community seasons (grief, celebration, renewal). Matching the pace and timing of our work to these seasons makes it more humane and more effective.
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6
Urgency and patience, together
Yes, there is great urgency in this work — and we also need great patience. Slowing down a little helps us damage ourselves and each other less along the way.
Topics Covered
Resources Mentioned
- Beyond Sticky Notes KA's practice, courses, book, and free resources on co-design and co-production.
- Beyond Sticky Notes (the book) KA's accessible guide to doing co-design for real.
- Kowa Collaboration Skye Trudgett's practice, recommended by KA for their work on Indigenous-led evaluation and Two-Worlds UMEL.
- The Relationship Is the Project Recommended by KA as an essential read.
- Mia Mingus On accountability, conflict and transformative justice (referenced by KA).
- John McKnight: Asset-Based Community Development Including "No More Throwaway People" and foundational community work.
- Vikki Reynolds On solidarity, supervision, and resisting burnout.
- Fumbling Towards Repair By Mariame Kaba and Shira Hassan, on accountability in practice.
- Pay the Rent A grassroots movement KA supports, paying rent to First Nations people.
- It Depends: Episode 14 with Jesse Robinson On sitting in relationships before the formal work begins.
- It Depends: Episode 9 with Emma Blomkamp On being clear about your purpose in co-design.
- It Depends: Episode 3 with Skye Trudgett On Indigenous data sovereignty and Indigenous-led evaluation.
- Emerson Osterberg Credit for the accountability pizza reference.
About KA
KA McKercher (they/them)
Founder, Beyond Sticky Notes
KA McKercher is a co-design and co-production facilitator, trainer and professional supervisor, and the author of Beyond Sticky Notes: Doing Co-Design for Real. Originally from Aotearoa and based on unceded Wangal Country, they are known internationally for their co-design frameworks and tools, with more than 15 years of practice across public health, community health and social care. KA is also a Research Associate in the Transgender Health group at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI), and brings all of who they are — as a designer, artist, queer and neurodivergent person — to work that centres care and makes hard spaces softer.
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