Making decisions real: designing artefacts to enable democratic localism and inform approaches to participatory policy making

Participatory governance and policy making are gaining momentum globally, with design approaches supporting the development of novel processes and outcomes. Focusing in on the potential of participatory design approaches in particular, this article advances notions of design as a mode of intervention that can be mobilised in response to legislative assets and deficits in specific policy landscapes. This is explored through a case study drawn from an ongoing programme of design research investigating the potential of participatory design in the political context of Scotland. Reflecting on this case with reference to the democratic vision of the pragmatist American philosopher John Dewey, the core argument is that if such efforts are to yield meaningful results, institutions require agile and flexible approaches to design. It also proposes that the way forward is not a universal solution, but a strategic response defined by critical reflection on existing legislative and policy instruments. We emphasise the importance of designing infrastructure that facilitates dialogue and collaboration between governments and communities. This allows for a final set of proposals relating to design’s potential contribution to policy making, specifically relating to the role it can play in influencing how legislation is implemented, evaluated, and, ultimately, reimagined.