Project R-8754

15th Participatory Design Conference. PARTICIPATORY DESIGN, DEMOCRACY AND POLITICS (Research)

PDC has a long history in PD research that contributes to societal issues and democratic processes. Considering our whole surroundings are designed, PDC has a democratic aim for design researchers to involve people who are non-designers in forming their environment. PDC 2018 has three objectives: First, PDC 2018 aims to foreground democracy and politics as historically and contemporary important topics in the PD community. This specific thematic focus is timely and relevant because of the changing local and European political landscape. These changes raise attention to give form to tools, spaces and displays that allow citizens to take part in the political landscape and democratic processes in relation to their environment. Considering the societal relevance of the PDC 2018 theme, we want to raise the attention of the research community, politicians and news media for the conference. Second, the local organisers of the conference aim to increase network opportunities for Flemish universities and by extension the Low Countries. The researchers that are part of the organising committee can strengthen local collaboration in areas related to PD and increase their visibility on an international level. The geographical situation also creates an opportunity for the broader PDC community to reach new local communities in the Benelux. Third, by bringing PDC to Belgium, the local academic institutes aim to establish their research position within the PDC community. Scandinavia, UK and USA were core contexts for the previous PDC editions since they have a long history and reputation in foregrounding design as research addressing societal themes. The Belgian research groups have been building on their academic reputation in the PD fiêld in the past ten years. PDC 2018 will set a different tone than the previous editions, highlighting the particularity of the local PD community within the international established PDC community.

20 August 2018 - 24 August 2018