Participatory Design: Issues and Concerns

  • Authors:
  • Finn Kensing;Jeanette Blomberg

  • Affiliations:
  • Department of Computer Science, Roskilde University, Denmark/ e-mail: kensing@ruc.dk;Xerox Palo Alto Research Center, 3333 Coyote Hill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304 USA/ e-mail: blomberg@parc.xerox.com

  • Venue:
  • Computer Supported Cooperative Work
  • Year:
  • 1998

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Abstract

We characterize Participatory Design(PD) as a maturing area of research and as an evolvingpractice among design professionals. Although PD hasbeen applied outside of technology design, here wefocus on PD in relation to the introduction ofcomputer-based systems at work. We discuss three mainissues addressed by PD researchers; the politics ofdesign; the nature of participation; and method, toolsand techniques for participation. We also report onthe conditions for the transfer of ’’PD results‘‘ toworkers, user groups, and design professionals thathave characterized PD over time and acrossgeopolitical terrains. The topic of the sustainabilityof PD within an organizational context is alsoconsidered. The article concludes with a discussion ofcommon issues explored within PD and CSCW and framesdirections for a continuing dialogue betweenresearchers and practitioners from the two fields. Thearticle draws on a review of PD and CSCW literaturesas well as on our own research and practicalexperiences.