Challenging participatory design in an urban environment structured by complex social divisions

Abstract

This research is based on how an understanding of place can facilitate designing Product Service Systems (PSS) in an urban environment structured by complex social divisions. Predominantly grounded in Participatory Design (PD), the study investigates how certain methodologies within the field are appropriate, and to what level that they are effective when used in a majority-world context. PD has produced successful projects when used in minority-world contexts, however, if the basis of the field – that of co-designers and the synthesised work effort from all stakeholders – is brought into an environment that has extreme social divisions, there is a definitive abstraction of design-orientated social engagement. The project research began in Malmö, Sweden, with the first of three case studies. In this context, PSS and PD were used as a paradigm to engage businesses and people in a specific area in a project referred to as Linjen (‘The Line’). The main purpose of the project was to stimulate the public’s interest in the area and to investigate the potential for connecting local businesses in an effort to propagate constructive communication. This section serves as a baseline framework for minority-world PD projects. The second study of the project was conducted in Cape Town, South Africa, and from the resultant implications a revised approach emerged. This reappraised angle proved far more interesting and relevant: it now aimed to take the PD methodologies of a minority-world project and explore what challenges were encountered when PD approaches were implemented across a socially complex environment. The third and final case study involved prototyping a waste collection trolley as a participatory aid for engaging stakeholders as codesigners. The case studies are presented here to describe the dichotomy of PD practice between contexts or place. A recurring theme of this research area is that of ‘perceived’ distance and roles between co-designers, and specifically that of the researcher and the stakeholders. This thesis concludes by presenting a lens – an amalgamation of experiences, prototypes and research outcomes – through which designers could work when involved in PD projects. The conclusion includes the following research tools: planning casual encounters, valuebased interactions, design ownership and human proxy. These tools present useful and insightful ways in which designers can minimise the perceived distance between themselves and their co-designers, ultimately developing a reflective and mindful design practitioner and engaged participants.