Summary
Have you ever been a part of a participatory process or use of a participatory method only to find that it fell short of any real shift of power dynamics? Have you ever compared notes with another participatory designer only to find out their definition of participatory design is different than your own? Have you faced opposition from your organization in practicing design in a more participatory way? What does it even mean to practice participatory design in the civic space, for people in our society to be engaged in the practice of designing ways in which our societies can flourish? Join us, come into the conversation, and see what Victor Udoewa has to say about such experiences, the different definitions of participatory design and how participatory design can actually be used to reinforce hierarchies. One way he has found to dismantle that system is to practice radical participatory design. He will share what that means, how it looks, and how you can begin moving in that direction along with a direct challenge to our community of designers in regards to our own power.
Key Insights
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Participatory design has historical roots extending beyond conventional timelines, including indigenous practices.
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Community engagement is vital to the success of design initiatives.
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Radical participatory design requires community members to be present and active from the project's onset.
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Community members should outnumber designers to ensure equitable power dynamics.
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Ownership of design outcomes and processes should rest with community members, not external designers.
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Empathy in design is complex and can be effectively addressed by embedding community members in the design process.
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Compensation for community members must be equitable to acknowledge their contributions and sacrifices.
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Trauma-responsive practices are more effectively embedded in participatory design when community members are included.
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Design thinking should shift from human-centered to community-centered and societal-centered approaches.
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The future of participatory design hinges on transforming institutional practices to genuinely empower communities.
Notable Quotes
"Land acknowledgments serve as a reminder that we cannot talk about alternative futures without discussing alternative paths."
"Without community members present, decision-making power resides in the spaces between workshops led by designers."
"Radical participatory design requires that community members are full-fledged members of the research and design team."
"Qualitative equity in remuneration means community members should be compensated fairly if they contribute equally to design work."
"Community members often define their desires based on their aspirations, not only their problems."
"Empathy, as a concept, is often a façade in design processes unless community members are intimately involved in the design."
"In a truly participatory process, we must ask ourselves who leads and who initiates the design."
"The challenge is aligning government needs with the needs of the people for a more equitable framework."
"Trust is often embedded in long-term community relationships, making inclusive recruitment easier."
"We must strive for a future where community voices drive design processes and decisions."
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