The co-design workshop for this project was held on 15 May 2026 at Morecambe Town Hall. The residents of our pilot project participated in hands-on activities and group discussions to develop guidance and prototypes. The aim of the co-design workshop was to help residents co-create a user-friendly tenancy energy pack (a resident-facing guide) for homes with solar PV and battery storage. Residents were invited to contribute their lived experience, especially what they found confusing, what they wished they had known earlier, and what kinds of explanations and visuals would make it easier for new tenants to use the systems confidently.
The workshop activities focused on turning resident feedback into guide design and structure. Based on the workshop materials, this included:
- Exploring what to include in the pack: residents discussed key content such as installation basics, system components (e.g., inverter, metering), and how to interpret what residents see on displays/app screens.
- Designing for clarity and accessibility: participants emphasised that guidance should avoid overwhelming technical language and should use simple wording, strong visuals, and short sections.
- Co-developing the prototype structure: residents worked through guide page logic (e.g., “need to know first”), glossary concepts, troubleshooting information, and how contact details should be easy to find.
- Building an iterative prototype: residents combined ideas into a draft guide layout and discussed how it should work for different tenant needs (including those who may not want to rely on apps).
A key insight from the co-design workshop was that residents wanted the pack to support easy, confident everyday use—with information structured so that it doesn’t overwhelm new tenants. In other words: guide design is not just about what you say, but about how quickly and simply residents can find what they need. “Just pictures are all tackles”, one participant said.
This quote reflects the practical design principle participants strongly expressed throughout this workshop: the tenancy pack should rely on clear visuals (and minimal jargon), so residents can understand PV and battery systems without needing specialist knowledge. That directly supports the project’s broader goal of improving handover and education—so benefits are accessible to residents from day one.
Mirian Calvo