Shifting PD Frames
Overview
This research project aims to develop a process for fostering reflections on Participatory Design (PD) practices. Its main goal is to raise awareness of bias and indirect exclusion dynamics that may occur, and to explore ways to recognize and prevent them.
A process was designed to be used as a workshop exercise to be carried out with partners or in groups. It is a reflective process to be applied to future PD activities to identify potential limitations and how to address them. You can download it here
If you try the process and have any feedback, we would love to hear it. Send an email to urbanimaginarieslab@gmail.com
keywords: participatory design, democracy, exclusion, ecosystem, networks
Carleton University
2025 - ongoing
-
PD is an approach that aims at the redistribution of decision-making power, so that those who directly affected by a specific issue and/or design process can have a say on it. However, PD processes can also bring challenges and risks to the participatory democracy that they aim to promote. In the specific case of this research project, the focus is on exploring and strengthening the democratic potential of PD processes.
The project does that by identifying, reflecting, and promoting awareness on bias and exclusion dynamics inherent may occur, and to explore ways to recognize and prevent them.
-
This research project is an exploratory investigation based on a generative research approach. After a scoping review on the current discussion on the topic; a process was designed to support designers in identifying bias and exclusion dynamics that might affect future PD processes, and the factors and reasons behind them. The process is being tested with designers who are experts in PD.