Participatory Design is a values-driven approach to co-creation that seeks to empower participants through mutual learning and power sharing. Library assessment practitioners can integrate the tools and techniques of Participatory Design to develop meaningful community-based assessments with library users.

Participatory Design begins with the idea that users and professionals each possess skills and perspectives of equal worth. This equity is realized through a practice of collaborative power-sharing and decision-making that deeply connects users with the process and outcome of a library assessment. During the process of a participatory assessment, participants build connection with each other and develop collective insights by completing design activities together. The process combines elements of spontaneity and play with a rigorous design theory. Through the practice of Participatory Design, student participants become expert library users who develop a strong sense of place and confidence that can contribute to their success. And for librarian Participatory Design practitioners, the in-depth participatory process can enhance our ability to understand and empathize with diverse user populations. Ultimately, Participatory Design is a research and design methodology that can be used to develop meaningful assessment insights with diverse user groups.

This workshop will present the principles and practices of Participatory Design. The key outcome of this workshop will be practical knowledge and skills for building and extending a Participatory Design practice. The workshop will apply a train-the-trainer approach, with session attendees functioning both as participants and as facilitators-in-training. Together, we will practice through the three-stages of the Participatory Design process. We will first complete design activities as participants. Then we will assume the role of facilitator, reviewing our design evidence and discussing decision-points such as activity selection, application, and sequencing. At each stage, we will complete reflective prompts to help guide the participatory process, with a view toward applied principles. As a result of this workshop, attendees will learn how the tools and techniques of Participatory Design can be used to build community connections and develop meaningful and actionable library assessment insights.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Understand the history and background of Participatory Design as a methodology for co-creation.
• Apply the principles and process of Participatory Design in a library setting.
• Develop UX and assessment insights using Participatory Design tools and techniques, including design games, structured creative thinking activities, and dialoguing exercises.

Facilitator

Scott Young, UX & Assessment Librarian, Montana State University