OSKOP (Open Source Kit of Parts)

Open Collaboration for a Smarter Future

Overview

When a group of manufacturers, designers, and consultants set out to create an open-source approach to building design, Sprout helped turn their vision into something tangible. The result was OSKOP — the Open Source Kit of Parts — a collaborative framework built to share knowledge, improve performance, and change how public sector buildings are designed and delivered.

The Challenge

In modern construction, manufacturers often develop their own 2D panelised systems — but they rarely share data. Fire test results, acoustic ratings, and build-up details are closely guarded, creating unnecessary duplication and inefficiency across the industry.

The OSKOP alliance wanted to break that cycle. Their goal was to create a shared, open-source guide that could be used by manufacturers, designers, and contractors to build better, faster, and smarter — together.

The challenge lay not only in compiling complex technical information, but in making it accessible, consistent, and unified across multiple contributors.

Our Role

Sprout was first approached by fermacell© (part of the James Hardie Building Company), who saw the potential for this idea but needed help shaping it into a clear, usable resource. What started as a small request for writing support quickly evolved into a major collaborative project spanning multiple partners and disciplines.

As the strategic partner and editorial lead, Sprout took on the task of transforming highly technical material into something clear, cohesive, and credible. The goal was to simplify without dumbing down — ensuring that complex technical data could be easily understood by a broad audience of professionals.

The working dynamic was fully collaborative. Every contributor — from manufacturers to consultants — had valuable expertise to share. Many of them have been contributing their time and insight to this initiative for years, driven by a shared belief in doing what’s right for the industry and the people it serves. Sprout acted as the glue between them, uniting voices, aligning content, and shaping the narrative into a single, seamless story.

Our Solution

Sprout developed, wrote, and structured the OSKOP Technical Manual — an online guide designed to support the design and construction of education and other public sector buildings.

The process required cutting through dense, overly technical language to bring clarity and consistency across multiple contributors. We focused on the human outcome: a guide that not only shared data, but also inspired collaboration and transparency.

As the project gained traction, OSKOP began to take on a life of its own. What started as a document evolved into a movement — an alliance with genuine industry momentum. When the team was invited to exhibit at Education Estates 2025, Sprout stepped in once again to create a cohesive visual identity for the alliance: logo, exhibition stand, leaflets, and a clean, simple landing page that captured the professionalism and unity behind the idea.

The Impact

The OSKOP alliance now represents something rare in construction — true, open collaboration. What began as a technical exercise has become a proof of concept for how shared knowledge can accelerate progress across the sector.

The alliance now has an identifiable brand presence, professional materials, and an online home where the guide can evolve. It’s not owned by any one organisation, but shaped collectively — a living resource designed to drive better outcomes for the public sector. What makes OSKOP truly powerful is the people behind it — individuals and organisations who contribute their expertise for the greater good, united by a shared purpose to improve building safety, performance, and transparency across the industry.

The real success lies in the shift it represents: from competition to collaboration, from proprietary systems to shared progress.

“Sara has been instrumental in helping us tell the real story of OSKOP — not just what we do, but why it matters. She has this rare ability to take deeply technical, compliance-heavy material and turn it into something clear, human, and compelling. From the very start, she’s shaped how we communicate as a group, helping us define our voice in a crowded and complex industry. She brings clarity where there’s confusion and momentum where we hit inertia — and makes the whole process feel possible, positive, and full of purpose.”

— Paul Inch, Strata Consultancy

“Working with Sara never feels like outsourcing marketing — she’s part of the mission. She connects the dots between manufacturers, architects, and clients so our message lands with the right people in the right way. What Sprout has given us is more than creative output; it’s strategic direction and storytelling that unites a diverse group of voices behind one clear purpose. She’s agile, responsive, and great when the pressure is on — guiding us with clarity and creativity no matter how complex things get. For everyone involved in OSKOP, Sara has become our North Star — helping us speak, share, and show up with confidence.”

— Luke Wilson, fermacell

Ditching the Dull

In a sector where technical documents are often impenetrable, Sprout helped turn complexity into clarity — and an idea into a movement.

Proof that progress happens faster when knowledge is shared.

At a Glance

Client: OSKOP Alliance

Sector: Construction / Public Sector

Services Delivered: Technical Writing, Editorial Direction, Brand Development, Exhibition Design, Digital Content

Project Duration: Feb 2024 – Oct 2025

Collaborators: fermacell, James Hardie Building Company, Strata Consultancy

Outcome: Online technical manual, cohesive brand identity, exhibition presence at Education Estates 2025, growing industry alliance.

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