Time as an issue of power in participatory design

• DOI: 10.21606/nordes.2023.70
• Publication Date: 2023-05-16T14:50:48Z
• Authors: Helena Kraff; Eva Maria Jernsand
• Keywords: Participatory Design; Visibility; Phenomenon

Participatory design researchers address complex issues through collaboration with other actors. These can be communities, third sector organisations, industry or governmental bodies, as well academic disciplines. Collaborators are seen knowledgeable, and empowerment, mutual learning democratic processes emphasised. However, such positive claims have long been undermined by skewed power relations, many of which related to time. Time, an evasive phenomenon tending escape visibility, is in this paper given centre-stage. The aim identify time challenges participation, exploring their effects social implications. analysis a project Kenya reveals how challenges; limit the diversity participants; hinder participants from taking on roles that evolve projects progress; impedes opportunities for co-production knowledge. Together, these indicate need increased responsiveness funders regarding importance emergent structures inclusive budgets.