Co-creation

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Co-creation, in the context of a business, refers to a product or service design process in which input from consumers plays a central role from beginning to end. Less specifically, the term is also used for any way in which a business allows consumers to submit ideas, designs or content. This way, the firm will not run out of ideas regarding the design to be created and at the same time, it will further strengthen the business relationship between the firm and its customers. Another meaning is the creation of value by ordinary people, whether for a company or not.

Urban co-creation extends the notion of co-creation beyond business to urban planning and transformation. It involves the collective creation of urban environments by residents, communities, professionals, and institutions through participatory, bottom-up processes. The concept encompasses traditional practices, grassroots actions, and innovative participatory planning methods, all aiming to transform cities in more inclusive, democratic, and sustainable ways. A recent taxonomy of urban co-creation categorizes practices according to tools, time involvement, spatial focus, and purpose, enabling systematic analysis and creative development of new participatory experiences.^[1]

The first person to use the "Co-" in "co-creation" as a marketing prefix was Koichi Shimizu, professor of Josai University, in 1979. In 1979, "co-marketing" was introduced at the Japan Society of Commerce's national conference. Everything with "Co" comes from here.^[2][3]