As part of its ongoing work to connect research with citizen experience, the ENCODE project organised a co-creation workshop bringing together citizens, researchers, and stakeholders to explore the emotional dimensions of political communication and democratic life. The workshop created a space for participants to exchange experiences, reflect on research insights, and collaboratively consider how future political narratives can support more inclusive and constructive forms of democratic engagement.
The workshop built on the research developed throughout ENCODE, including insights into emotions in political communication, social media narratives, and citizens’ emotional responses to political content. These findings provided a starting point for participants to reflect on how emotions influence the ways people interpret political messages, communicate with others, and participate in public life.
A central element of the workshop was the co-creation approach. Rather than treating citizens solely as recipients of research findings, the workshop invited participants to actively contribute their own experiences, perspectives, and ideas. Through interactive discussions and collaborative activities, participants explored different emotional experiences of political communication and considered how these experiences could inform the development of future narratives.
The discussions also highlighted the diversity of emotional responses that can emerge around political and social issues. Participants reflected on how emotions such as trust, concern, hope, frustration, belonging, and solidarity can influence communication and relationships within democratic societies. The workshop offered an opportunity to consider how recognising this diversity can foster more meaningful dialogue and broader participation.
Another important focus was the development of future political narratives. Participants were encouraged to think creatively about alternative ways to communicate political and societal issues and to consider which forms of communication could encourage dialogue across perspectives. Their contributions offered valuable insights into how future narratives might become more inclusive, constructive, and responsive to citizens’ experiences.
The workshop also strengthened the connection between ENCODE’s research and its wider societal engagement. Bringing researchers and participants together allowed academic findings to be discussed in an accessible and interactive setting, while participants’ experiences and ideas provided an important perspective for the project’s continuing work.
The insights generated through the co-creation process will contribute to ENCODE’s ongoing activities on citizen engagement and future narratives. By combining research evidence with lived experiences and collaborative reflection, ENCODE continues to explore how emotional dimensions of political life can be better understood and how citizens can play an active role in shaping the narratives of democratic life.
The co-creation workshop marks another step in ENCODE’s journey from research and experimentation towards dialogue, participation, and the collaborative development of future democratic narratives.