What we can do for you

Our Services

Butterfly Works
What we did for others

A partner for social solutions

Our services are tailored to spark new and innovative ideas. We use collective creativity to approach issues in a new way, resulting in solutions that fit the needs of the people with whom they are co-created. Our services can range from a month of creative support to a multi-year programme and fall into 4 main areas:

Product development

Facilitating a design thinking process and co-creating with users to move from a need or a problem towards a product that is ready for launch.

We work closely with end users, local creatives and our technical partners to develop products that match local values, are well-designed and technically viable. Though we don’t always know what will result from our co-creative processes, typical outputs include:

  • E-learning
  • M-learning
  • Online platforms for learning & exchange
  • Mobile apps
  • Communication campaigns (on/offline)
  • Serious games

For more examples of our product development click here

Creative research

Using design research tools to understand the needs and realities of end users and the system around a problem.

We use creative and user-friendly tools to empower end users to be researchers of their own lives. Our signature Exploration Lab is often a part of this process. The Exploration Lab has the aim to listen, see and be open to find new angles to build innovative solutions.

By equipping users with tailored design research tools, we gather unexpected and honest insights and perspectives.

For more examples of our creative research click here

Design thinking training

Delivering tailored and practical sessions to embed design thinking and co-creation processes within organisations, teams, project cycles or activities.

Our tailored trainings range from design thinking and co-creation basics to more complex sessions that support teams to apply the tools and approaches in their work.

For joining one of our design thinking webinars click here

Strategic design

Using design thinking and co-creation approaches to advise on project and programme design and organisational development.

We work closely with your team to map and visualise systems and processes to spark innovation. At the same time, we show how to embed the perspective of end users in order to drive sustainable impact.

For more examples of our strategic design click here

Want to know more

We are always excited to start a new partnership. Get in touch to see what we can do for you.

Our Method

In our method we combine design thinking and co-creation. It is a process, a mindset and a set of skills. Over the years we have developed tools and techniques that can be adjusted to local contexts and used to tackle any social issue. As a facilitator of this process we connect different people, release creativity, push to innovate and together come to solutions that work. Based on our method, every project goes through a similar design process divided into 5 different phases; setting the scene, research, ideation, create and test loop, and a successful handover.

All projects benefit from a sharply-defined social need, which becomes the primary focus throughout the project. It ensures that everyone is on the same page, shows what still needs to be researched, gives a first idea of potential solutions and identifies people that need to be involved.  

In conducting design research, we strive to gain a full understanding of the context in which we work. We expand on existing participatory, creative, ethnographic and design research methods. By combining an insider and outsider perspective, we are able to understand the context in novel ways and connect to the lived experiences of the target group.  

Ideation is the creative process of generating and visualizing new ideas inspired by developments in the creative and technology sectors. An open attitude and creativity come first; that is how we are able to build innovation and start with fresh ideas.  

The finer details of the solution are developed in a loop of testing and adjusting, until it suits the needs of the users and stakeholders involved. Rapid prototyping, first test products and real life trials ensure cheap fails and successful solutions.  

The client and the community are the driving force of a project's success. They are the ones who will carry out the new solutions and encourage them to grow. To support this, we prepare a handover including a long-term strategy capturing learnings, tips and tricks.  

Try out our tools and methods

Feel like digging deeper and want to use our tools and methods for your project? Download the method kit and tell us what you think.

Say hello!

  • Butterfly Works
  • Ms. van Riemsdijkweg 57
  • 1033 RC Amsterdam
  • The Netherlands