SILK Method Deck

Developed for Kent County Council and the Social Innovation Lab for Kent the SILK Method Deck is a card based collection of methods, principles and prompt cards which can be used by a wide range of stakeholders during project planning and other creative activities.

Using the Method Deck and the supporting project planner

We’ve used the Method Deck with KCC project teams, designers, project managers, social science researchers, community and economic development experts in a wide variety of workshop contexts.

The method deck includes five categories of methods. Each category includes methods that are likely to be useful at different stages of a project. They are:

• Plan cards are a useful aid at the early stages of a project, providing the team with how to’s and prompts for building a robust project plan.

• Communicate cards complement the Plan cards and provide techniques for communicating with stakeholders throughout the project. Some of these may include electronic communications, others might be based on printed media or film.

• Insight cards offer a collection of techniques for collecting insight either directly or through users or specialist researchers. Some of these are field-based exercises; others are best done in a workshop or in a quiet office.

• Design cards are useful once the project has begun and offer ways of converting insights and inspiration into ideas and practical solutions. 

• Workshop cards include a generic set of tools that may be useful during co-creation sessions. From ice-breakers to voting and clustering exercises, these methods will be useful prompts when planning your next workshop.

An ‘Insight’ method card

The Method Deck is available from the Social Innovation Lab for Kent, and you can browse the methods in digital format on the SILK website.