Being the change: How to host a Social Lab

Welcome to our guide on how to host a Social Lab!

If you want to create positive change in your community or organisation, a Social Lab is a great way to unite stakeholders and develop effective interventions.

Hosting a Social Lab takes planning and commitment. You are responsible for bringing the stakeholders together, holding the space, and leading participants through the journey.

Whether you're a corporate employee or a social entrepreneur, the guide below can support you in hosting a complete Social Lab or a mini version.

How to get started

1. Define the initial challenge

Start by defining the social challenge you want to address in a collaboration between corporate(s) and social entrepreneurs. This could be a broad problem, such as poverty, inequality, or climate change, or a more specific one, such as a lack of quality and fit-for-purpose home furnishings for people with physical disabilities.

2. Select and gather participants

Identify and involve a group of stakeholders affected by the challenge, as well as social entrepreneurs and the actors within corporates interested in addressing it. Make sure you include a diverse group of people with the necessary knowledge, expertise, and power to act and make a change.

3. Set up working groups

Divide the participants into groups of 6 to 8 people. Ensure a balance of interests, expertise, and capabilities. Identify and brief facilitators for the workshops.

4. Design the process

Select the tools you want to use according to the goal of the Social Lab and the time you have available. Prepare a presentation to communicate the goal, the timing, the steps and the exercises to the participants

5. Conduct the workshops

Facilitate a collaborative process where participants work together to understand the challenge and design and develop effective and sustainable interventions.

6. Prototype and test

Create prototypes of the proposed interventions and test them in practice. This may include pilot projects, demonstrations, or simulations.

7. Evaluate and iterate

Evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions and revise them based on stakeholder feedback and test results. Refine the interventions and develop implementation plans.

8. Implement and scale up

Implement and scale up the interventions to address the challenge on a larger scale. This may involve allocating resources for the interventions and working with government officials, policymakers, or other stakeholders to advocate for policy changes.

Throughout the Social Lab, it is important to foster effective communication and collaboration among stakeholders, create a safe space for experimentation and innovation, and emphasise equity and inclusion.

Read our guides for more information about planning or facilitating a Social Lab

Planners guide

Check out our planner's guide for more information on logistics, like venue choice and materials. With this guide, you can start planning your Social Lab with confidence.

Download the guide

Facilitators guide

Our facilitator's guide gives you all the best tips for leading participants through a Social Lab and provides instructions on how to facilitate the exercises for each tool.

Download the guide

Explore our case study for more insight and top tips

How to enable a better everyday life for low-income groups in Germany

In 2023 we hosted a Social Lab in Berlin, bringing together 8 social enterprises and IKEA workers from across the value chain to explore how we could enable a better everyday life for single parents, refugees and migrants, first generation students, the elderly and persons with disabilities.