Sevi MerterMerter, Sevi2025-10-06202426049155, 260460322604-91552604-603210.46467/TdD40.2024.74-912-s2.0-85212273064https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85212273064&doi=10.46467%2FTdD40.2024.74-91&partnerID=40&md5=7521de9234c70a14dbd55a48331216f1https://gcris.yasar.edu.tr/handle/123456789/8259https://doi.org/10.46467/TdD40.2024.74-91Design education is characterised by its experiential and practice-oriented approach emphasising active engagement with projects. The pedagogical focus is on developing individual styles professional stances and a receptive attitude towards novel experiences aligning with the evolving landscape of the design profession. This study explores community engagement in student projects as a means to establish a co-deciding and co-learning infrastructure in the design studio. This participative and democratic approach challenges traditional hierarchies in higher education transforms the student-instructor relationship and aligns educational practices with the evolving requirements of the design profession. The study investigates students’ insights into co-learning with the community through scenario-building. A workshop conducted with twelve fourth-year undergraduate industrial design students and the thematic analysis of the findings revealed that educational community engagement projects employing inclusionary methods motivate students and foster a positive attitude towards shifting power relations within a democratic design studio structure. The findings also highlight the need for a clear focus a set of principles for successful engagement and conflict resolution in the co-learning process as well as the generative potential of scenario-building as a method for inclusive practices. © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Englishinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessCo-learning, Community Engagement, Democratisation Of Education, Design Education, Design Projects, Design StudioDesign StudioCo-learningDesign EducationDesign ProjectsDemocratisation of EducationCommunity EngagementArticle