Putting Power to Good Use, Delicately and Tenaciously

Abstract

Design is a political act. The politics of design determine who gets what, from parks and housing to landfills and freeway pollution. The politics of design determines if a bench prevents a homeless person from sleeping or if a park includes facilities for all in the neighborhood to enjoy. The politics of design determines whether land resources essential for a heathy ecosystem are enhanced or destroyed. Participatory design is one of the most effective means in a democracy to create cities and landscapes that distribute resources and shape places to be sustainable, representative of diverse publics, well informed by local wisdom, and just. Transactive design processes empower participants and designers with information, skills, and self-confidence as well as the recognition that there is much to be gained by change. This chapter provides the tools to dissect, develop, and put power to good use.