Spaces for participatory creativity

Abstract

This article compares participatory workshops with novel mixed-reality tabletop tools in three different urban projects. It discusses differences of site and project, the role of representations, and the role of the participating stakeholders as factors that are crucial in shaping the space for design ideas. The article then draws conclusions as to the salient aspects of creative, explorative and imaginative exploration.

Keywords:

• participatory design
• urban planning
• stakeholders
• representation
• design ideas
• creativity

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank the IPCity team, in particular Maria Basile, Lisa Ehrenstrasser, Gammon, Michal Idziorek, Valerie Maquil, Burcu Ozdirlik, Jean-Jacques Terrin and Mira Wagner, for their contributions; Elise Hilland and Ole Kristian Rolstad from the Oslo team; as well as all workshop participants. We also want to thank Joan Greenbaum for constructive suggestions that have improved the article.