CCA DR Blog Post #3

Question: “Participatory design diminishes the role of the designer” OR "Participatory design enhances the role of the designer."

Reply:
Participatory design enhances the role of the designer. Why would you not want developed ideas from passionate people? It's like a free brainstorming session, but it's based on real life desires and preferences from people who have spent a lot of time thinking about the pros and cons of a hobby/passion/object that they have or want. Innovation is enhanced by collaboration and design should be about understanding what people want and then infusing it with your education and knowledge and creating the best possible outcome/project/product.

In his TED talk, Chris Anderson articulated well the idea that we are a "social species" and we don't generally work in isolation and the best ideas usually spring from collaboration.
Charles Leadbeater discussed the mountain bike in his talk and how it came from people who were passionate about biking but frustrated with their existing options, so they developed a great product that is still being used thirty years later. Open sourcing and participatory design can enhance the role of the designer because it makes their work more approachable to a larger population who feel that their needs are being met. One of the most beautiful aspects of being a designer is creating a product that could have staying power and an impact that will reach the masses. Participatory design doesn't diminish the importance of the designer's role in creating a product/solution/system nor does it maintain that a designer has to listen too all viewpoints of the participants. It is another tool that can help the designer realize a product/solution/system with greater impact.