Altering participation through interactions and reflections in design

Abstract

In this paper, we illustrate through a set of examples how our own conceptualisation of participatory design (PD) and associated tools and techniques transforms within the design process itself. Co-designing with African rural communities has brought to light our many assumptions and intentions underlying commonly used methods and principles of PD. While genuinely striving for user involvement these same methods can hinder a truly participatory approach to design. We have learned much through our encounters and continuous reflections in various projects with southern African rural communities and seek to share our experiences in one particular, current project which led us to interrogate and revise our existing conceptions of PD. We also aim to infuse the evolution of PD with insights from Africa and cross-cultural design so that PD can better serve diversity globally.

Keywords:

• community participation
• rural interaction design
• African context
• community-based
• sustainable development
• cross-cultural design
• indigenous knowledge
• local appropriation
• action research
• dialogical methods

Acknowledgements

First, we would like to thank the different villagers who have welcomed us so warmly on many occasions and allowed us to participate with them in this endeavour. In particular, we would like to thank the four Elders Gerald, Alex, Veha and Joob, who have been dedicated to the project since 2008 and have taken on leading roles in most interactions. Secondly, we are grateful to our fellow researcher, Gereon Koch Kapuire, our host in the village, who facilitated most of the sessions. Thirdly, we would like to acknowledge all researchers, students, funding agencies and institutes that have contributed to this project.

Notes

1. Scholarship of African orality includes linguistic and ‘extra-linguistic’ acts, such as gesture, movement, crafts and performance (Finnegan 2007).

2. In Zulu it is ‘umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu’, in Sotho we have ‘Motho ke motho ka batho babang’, while in Otjiherero it can be rendered as ‘omundu omundu okuza movandu varue’.

3. Related words are found in many African languages, for example, in Swahili it is ‘Ujamaa’, which was adopted by Julius Nyerere of Tanzania for his brand of African socialism. Since it is a powerful and loaded concept it has also been subject to misuse and overuse (Munyaka and Motlhabi 2009).