Enhancing the democratic value of public participation through AI - a case study on Midjourney

Enhancingthedemocraticvalueofpublicparticipation throughAI-acasestudyonMidjourney

LauraM.Krogh1

1 AalborgUniversity,InstituteforPlanning,Denmark

Hand-indateofarticle:06/01/2023

Abstract—Withthecommunicativeturninplanningthereisacontinuouspressuretogobeyondtherepresentativedemocracytowards participatorypractices.Thecommonpracticeoftodayhowever,doesnotreflectthistransition.TheParticipatoryParadoxillustrates theissuethatthepublic’sinterestinparticipatingarriveslateinprocesseswhilsttheopportunitiestoimpactprojectarriveearly.Most participationisleftattheendofproject,andischaracterizedbyprofessionallyfinalizedproposalslackingthepublic’sinput.Blindedby theseproposals,thepublicisleftwithouttheskillstotakepartinthedesignprocessandcannotseebeyondtheproposals.Thisarticle investigatesthethemesofparticipationcoupledwiththeAIsoftware:Midjourney.Midjourneyisatext-to-imagestoolwhichgenerate visualimages,concepts,andinspirationpurelybasedonwords.ThisarticleinvestigatesthisAIsoftwareanditspotentialsinrestructuring theparticipatoryparadoxbyequalizingtheprocessandincreasingthedemocraticvalueofparticipation.

Keywords—Publicparticipation,ParticipatoryParadox,AI,Midjourney

I.I NTRODUCTION

Today’spracticeofpublicinvolvementinthefieldofurbanplanningislefttootraditionalandasaboxtobe ticked.Thereisanurgentneedtorestructurethewaythe publicisinvolvedinhowtheirenvironmentisplanned(Innes andBooher, 2004).Anissuepresentedby ReinertandSinning (1997)explainsaparadoxthatoccursincurrentparticipationprocesseswherebythepublic’sinterestandtheir opportunitytoparticipatenonotalignedwiththatoftheprofessionalplanners.Theprocessofinvolvingthepublicis decidedbyplannersorprofessionalsandiscurrentlypushed totheendofprojectswherenoroomisleftforchanges,leadingtoeventsthatrarelyinducecreativity,co-production,or collaboration.Participationprocessesarebasedonfinished proposals,drawings,andvisualmaterial(InnesandBooher, 2004).Visualcommunicationisastrongtoolthathasconvincingpowers,however,theissueunderinvestigation,besidesthelateuseofparticipation,isthatmostpeopledonot havetheskillsettomakethisvisualmaterialthemselves. Therefore,thepublicwillneverbeabletotakepartinparticipationatthesamelevelastheprofessionals,astheylackthe skills.

Whatthisresearchexploresistheproblemthatalthough thehumanbraincanvisualizetheseintricateimages,the commonpublicdoesnothavethetoolstotranslatethese ideasintophysicaldrawingsorsketches.Thisiswheretextto-imagesoftwareanddeeplearningcomesin.Deeplearn-

Contactdata:LauraMarieKrogh,lmkr18@student.aau.dk

ingisacomplexconcepttoexplain,essentiallyitmeansthat acomputerlearnsfromlargedatasetstodepictanddistinguishbetweenmillionsofvariables(VOX, 2022).Oneof theoutputsofmachinelearningisimages.Text-to-imageAI isanewconceptthatproducesvisuallyrealisticandunique imagesthataregeneratedthroughadescriptiontext.Thetext canbeanythingandwrittenbyanyone.Therefore,thissoftwareisviewedtohaveimmensepotentialinvariousfields (Ramzanetal., 2022).Itisahighlycontemporarysoftware makingitinterestingtoinvestigatehowandifthesepotentialscanrelatetoUrbanplanningandArchitectureandthe impactitcouldhaveonpublicparticipation.TheAIsoftware thatisbeinginvestigatedinthisarticleiscalledMidjourney. Thearticleexploresthepossibilitiesofinvolvingthepublicearlierinprojectprocessesandlevelingthepowerroles betweentheprofessionalandthepublic.Throughthetheme ofAI,thepotentialsofthenewsoftwaretoolareexplored alongwiththeopportunitiestobreakorrestructuretheparadox.ByinterconnectingthethemesofAIandpublicparticipationthedesireistoresearchifthesetogethercanbeaway toreachparticipationthatismoredemocratic.Thefollowing researchquestionswillbeanswered.

HowcanMidjourneyenhancethedemocraticvalueof participationandrestructuretheparticipatoryparadox?

• Whatiscontemporarypublicparticipationinthefield ofArchitectureandUrbanPlanning?

• Howcantheparticipatoryparadoxbeaddressed throughMidjourney,andhowcanAIshapecontemporaryparticipation?

• Whichpotentialvalues,tothepracticeofpublicparticipation,cantext-to-imageAIbringtothecreativefield ofArchitectureandUrbanPlanning?

Thisarticleismadeupof6chapters.Chapter II includes aliteraturereviewexploringthenatureofparticipation,its history,importance,anditsissues.Thechapterpresentsthe participatoryparadoxby ReinertandSinning (1997)andthe Democracycubeby Fung (2006)alongwiththetheoryof Collaborativeplanningby InnesandBooher (2004).Chapter III consistsofthemethodologicalconsiderationsmainly presentinganinterviewandworkshopthatbuildsthefoundationoftheanalysis.Chapter IV istheanalysiswherein thesoftwareofMidjourneyisintroduced,andresultsfrom theinterviewandworkshoparepresented,explored,andput intothecontextoftheparticipatoryparadox.Chapter V isa discussiononMidjourneyandthevaluesandpotentialsthat itbringstoparticipatorypractice.Chapter VI concludesthe article.

II.L ITERATUREREVIEW

Thefollowingchapterpresentsaliteraturereviewofthehistorictransitioninplanningtheoryanddescribesthepurpose andvalueofparticipation.Thefollowingsectionsexplore differenttheoriestobetterunderstandtheissues,thevariations,andpotentialchangestoparticipationpractice.

a.Thedeliberativeturninplanning

Thisarticletakesitsdepartureonthecontemporaryturn inplanningtheorynamelythecommunicativeparadigm (Healey, 1996).Thisturnfollowsyearsofinstrumentalrationalitywithplanningbasedonobjective,technicalandrationaldecisions,withinstitutionalizedtop-downprocedures framingallcitizensasauniformgroupwiththeprofessional plannerastheexpert(Altshuler, 1965).Withanincreased distrustinthepoliticalsystemofrational,synopticplanning, awaveofnewideasemergedandmadeitpossibleforsmall researchandconceptstogainmomentum,ultimatelyleading toaparadigmshifttowardsamorecommunicativeandcollaborativeplanningtheory(Healey, 1996).Thenewturnin planningrecognizesthatpeoplearediverse,andcomplexand shouldbetakenintoaccountwhenplanning(Healey, 1996). Itfocusesonhowadiscussionaboutthepublicrealmcan befacilitatedthroughareconstructionofdemocraticpractice.Goingbeyondthetraditionalrepresentativedemocracytowardsinclusiveandparticipatorypracticesallowing allmembersofacommunitytotakepartandrecognizethe valueoftheirknowledgeandrighttohaveameaningand impact(Healey, 1996; Lane, 2005).

Participatoryprocessesareacentralfeatureinpolicymakingandimplementationincontemporaryplanning.As issuesofplanningbecomestillmorecomplex,thenewpoliticalculturereliesonnetworksofrelationshipsthatlink thecivilsocietywiththatofthegovernment(Healey, 1996; Fung, 2006).

b.Purposeofparticipation

Alongwiththegrowingpressurethatdeliberationandinvolvingthepublicisnecessary,therearevariouspurposes forpublicparticipationandwhyitisimportant.Participation isaboutfindingtheopinionsofthepublicandideallyincludingthesepreferencesindecisions.Thepublicholdsunique localknowledgethataddstoplanners’knowledge,ultimately leadingtomorewell-informeddecisions.Includingthepublicideallyadvancesfairnessandjustice,howeverincluding arepresentativegroupofpeopleiskey.Afourthreasonis aboutensuringlegitimacyfordecisionsmadebypublicbodies,whichrelatestothelastreasonconcerningthatthelaw requirespublicparticipationindifferentformsdependingon thecountry(InnesandBooher, 2004; Fung, 2006; Münster etal., 2017).Participationhasthepotentialtobuildempowerment,securetransparency,communityfeeling,andgenerallyqualifyplanning.Byengagingcitizens,asenseofcomplianceandsupportissecuredastheinvolvementgenerates asenseofownershipmakingcitizenslesslikelytocontest theoutcomeofprocesses(Fung, 2006).Onasocietallevel, participationlikewiseprovidesbenefitsintermsofdemocracy,inclusion,citizenship,andsocialsustainability(Cuellar, 2009).

c.Contemporaryparticipation

Astheconceptsofcommunicativeplanningarebeingimplementedmoreandmoreintoplanning,ithasbecomeclear thatparticipationismorecomplexthanjustlettingthepublicspeaktheirmind.Thereareissueswithincontemporary participationthatarecompromisingthebenefitsthatcould havebeencaptured.Theissuesofcontemporaryparticipatorypracticecanbecategorizedintotwothemes:firstly, practically:concerninghowparticipationispracticed,and secondly,atemporalsiderelatedtothetimeatwhichparticipationisintroduced,used,andallowedinprocesses.

Mosttraditionalparticipationcanbecategorizedasonewaycommunication.Adeliberativeidealmightbethataprocessallowsparticipantstoengageindiscussionsonpublic problemswithoneanotherinanequalmanner(Fung, 2006). However,thisisrarelythecaseininstitutionalizedparticipation.Instead,participationisoftenlefttoone-waycommunicationwhereparticipantslistentoinformationaboutpolicies orprojects,thisdoesnotinvolvemuchifanydeliberation. Manyplannersandgovernmentbodiesaim(orsaytheyaim) atmovingbeyondthis,buttoday,mostprocessesareleftat levelsofplacationneverreallyallowingforgenuineparticipation(Marmolejo-Ramosetal., 2022; Arnstein, 1969; Innes andBooher, 2004).Accordingto InnesandBooher (2004), thecurrentpracticeofparticipationcanevenbecounterproductivecausingangerandmistrust.Thesearedownto ambivalencethatoccursindilemmasbetween "theidealof democracyandtherealitythatmanyvoicesareneverheard" or "theconflictbetweentheindividualandcollectiveinterest" (InnesandBooher, 2004,p.419)

Thetemporalsideofwhenparticipationisconductedis keywhenunderstandingthesecondissueincontemporary participation.Traditionally,architectsandurbandesignersdevelopideasandconceptsfromwhichparticipationis grounded.Thisprovesasanissuethat ReinertandSinning (1997)presentsas theParticipatoryParadox (seefig. 1).

Accordingtotheauthors,earlyinprojects,theoptionsfor changes,input,andinfluenceislarge,asprojectsarestillin theirinitialphase.Astheprocessevolves,thespaceforinfluenceshrinks,asthedecisionandimplementationclosein. Forthepublic,thiscircleworkstheopposite.Atthebeginningofaproject,theabstractionlevelisveryhigh, "concepts arestilllittleshapedandhardtoconveytonon-specialists, buteasytoinfluenceandre-direct" (Münsteretal., 2017, p.2397)(ReinertandSinning, 1997).Astheprojectsbecome visual,concrete,andtangible,thepublicgainsaninterest anddesiretointeract.Atthisstage,however,itisoften toolatetomakemajorchanges(ReinertandSinning, 1997).

Accordingto Münsteretal. (2017),itiskeythattheendusersareinvolvedinprojectsasearlyaspossible,andthat thisinvolvementiscontinuedthroughout.Itisinthesepredesignphasesthatchangesarepossibleandfeasible,andas theprojectscontinuethespaceandimpactofparticipation activitiesdecreasewithtime.Withthevariousbenefitsand reasonsbehindparticipation,arguedforinsection b,itis importanttoinvolvethepublicasearlyaspossible. Münsteretal. (2017)however,alsoarguethatthepublicdoes notcareaboutprojectsuntiltheyareaffectingthemdirectly, whichagainmakestheparticipatoryparadoxrelevant,asthe interestintheearlystagesislacking.Thiscomplexnaturally makesonequestionhowandiftheparadoxcanberemedied, andhowtheinterestinearlyparticipationcanbeenhanced.

Withmajorissuesbothpracticallyandtemporallythe legallyrequiredmethodsofpublicparticipationingovernmentdecisionsareproblematic.Genuineparticipationisnot met,therepresentativepublicisnotincorporatedanddecisionscannotbesaidtoimprove.Instead,muchcurrentparticipationisleftatritualizedeventsconductedasmerelylegalrequirements(InnesandBooher, 2004).However,aswill bedescribedinthenextsections,participationcantakeform andbedesignedinvariouswaysandthiscomplexityisnecessarytounderstandiftheissuesofparticipationaretobe reduced.

d.Mechanismincontemporaryparticipation

InthefieldofUrbanplanningandArchitecture,professionals workondifferentscalesonhowthebuiltenvironmentcanbe improvedworkingonthemeslikeclimateresilience,housingcrisis,justice,biodiversity,mixed-use,ordensification.

Dealingwithcomplexissueslikethese,scholarsarguefor waysofworkingwithparticipationprocessesandfocuson

thescopeofwhoisinvolvedandtheirrepresentativenessto reachparticipationprocessesthatarejust,legitimate,andeffective(Fung, 2006).OneofthesescholarsisFung.Through oneofhisarticles Fung (2006)developsaframeworkforunderstandingtherangeofpossibilitiesforparticipationand presentsitasthe: Democracycube (see.figure 2.Heargues thatparticipationismadeupofthreemechanisms, "whoparticipates,howparticipantscommunicatewithoneanother andmakedecisionstogether,andhowdiscussionsarelinked withpolicyorpublicaction(p.1)."

Withinthesethreemechanismsvarietiesofprocessesof participationcanbefound,rangingfromthosewithinthe professionalscopeofex.municipalitiestowardswidepublic hearingamongstalargerangeofstakeholders.Thefollowingsectionswillbestructuredfromthesethreemechanisms basedonthatof Fung (2006)andsupportedbyotherliterature.

1.AuthorityandPower

Participationcanlookandtakeforminmanyways,andit isthroughthesedifferentmodelsthattheroleofthepublicisdetermined(Lane, 2005).Accordingto Fung (2006) thedistinctionconcerningauthorityandpowerisdownto howmuchandifthepublicinputislikedtowhatauthorities do.Heargues,thatmostoftenparticipantshavelittletono expectationofinfluencingtheoutcomesbutinsteadparticipateforinformationorasenseofcivicobligation.Atmuch higher,butlesscommonlevels,thecitizensareempowered toanextentthattheyareexercisingdirectpoweroverauthorities(Fung, 2006).

Arnstein (1969),famouslyputthevariousparticipation variationinaladderformation,illustratingtheradicaldifferencewhendiscussingparticipation.Theladderisanillustrationcorrespondingtothepowerthatcitizenshaveto affecttheendproduct.Atthebottomoftheladderisnonparticipation,wherecitizenshavenopower,ranginguptothe highestrungoftheladder,citizenspowerwherethepower structureischangedallowingsomecapacityofthedecisionmakingtocitizens.Aladderwillneverfullyexplorethe complexityofreal-timeplanningprocesses,astheseare uniquebasedoncontextandsituation,buttheladderdoes howevergiveagoodoverviewofthedegreesofinfluence

Fig.1: TheParticipatoryParadox(ReinertandSinning, 1997)(own figure

Fig.2: TheDemocracycube(Fung, 2006)

fromthepublicandhowthisisentirelyreliantonpower holderseagertoredistributetheirpower(Arnstein, 1969).

Arnstein (1969)arguethat "thereisacriticaldifferencebetweengoingthroughtheemptyritualofparticipationand havingtherealpowerneededtoaffecttheoutcomesofthe process" (Arnstein, 1969,p.2016).Participation,andthe righttospeech,isinherwritingthecornerstoneofdemocracy.Intheory,theconceptofparticipationisapplauded, however,whentherighttoparticipateisrequestedbythose, notinpower,theapplauseisreduced.Participationrequires are-distributionofpower,andifthisdoesnothappen,participationisleftattheloweststepsinherladder(Arnstein, 1969; Lane, 2005).Publicengagementrequiresa “genuine devolutionofpoweranddecision-makingtofrontlinepublic servantsandprofessionalsandtothecitizensandstakeholderswithwhomtheyengage.” (Marmolejo-Ramosetal., 2022, p.4).Aimingforinclusionanddeliberationthereisaneasy transferofpower.

Mosttraditionalparticipationisoftenatthelevelwhere participantsactasspectatorswhoreceiveinformation.These meetingswilloftenallowforanopportunitytoexpressopinionsandperhapsdiscussionsoftheproject,however,theinputwillrarelybecomemorethanconsiderationsfromtheofficialsandmightbeincludedintheirowndeliberation(Fung, 2006).

2.Participantselection

Thenextmechanisminparticipationrelatestowhoparticipates.Thiscanaccordingto Fung (2006)varyfromprocessesthatareopentoeveryone,toprocessesthatonlyinvite elitestakeholders.Whenthediscussiononwhoshouldparticipateexistsitisbecausetheauthorizeddecision-makers cannolongercomprehendtheentiretyofsociety-lacking knowledge,experience,orresources.Accordingto Fung (2006),mostoftenthereisnoselectionmechanism,meaningthateveryoneisinvitedtoparticipate.Howeverappealingthismethodmaysound,ithasitslimitsasthepeople attendingwilloftenbeunrepresentative.Theterm’theusual suspects’isusedforthisgroup,correspondingtopeoplethat arehighlyeducated,withhighincome,andretired(J.etal., 2015).Otherselectionmechanismscanbemoredirectedtowardspecificgroupsorspatialareas,ortheycanberandomizedmakingparticipationmostrepresentativeofthegeneral public.Lastly,themechanismsofrepresentativeandprofessionalstakeholderscanbeused.Theseareeitherunpaid representativesofasub-groupofpeopleorintereststhatare representingthisorpaidstakeholdersthatalsoworkthrough therepresentationofspecificviewsorgroups(Fung, 2006).

3.Communicationanddecisionmode

ThethirdmechanismintheDemocracycubeconcerns thedifferentmodesofcommunicationanddecision-making (Fung, 2006).Thedifferentmodesrelatetothedifferentextentsthatparticipantsinteractandinterfereinpublicprocesses.Thedistinctionrangesfromparticipantsas merespectatorstotheparticipantsasactivepartsindeliberationsanddecision-making.Themorecommunicationand decision-makinginvolvementfromthepublicthemoreinvestment,commitment,andknowledgearerequiredofthe participants.Forthisexactreason,thelackofparticipation atthebeginningofprojectscanaccordingto Fung (2006)be

downtothefactthatthevastmajorityofparticipantsonlyattendeventslikepublichearingstoreceiveinformationabout theprojectthatmightaffectthem.Forthoseinpower,this makesprocessesmucheasieraslessinputisbroughttothe table,however,asmentionedabovetheprofessionalplanner andarchitectdoesnothavethecapacitytonavigatethecomplexityofthepublicinterestandcity-makingforthefuture. Thepublicholdknowledge,resources,andlocalpurposethat iscrucialtoprojects(Fung, 2006).

Therewill,however,rarelybepublicmeetingswithoutthe opportunitytoexpressopinions,andmostoftentheseoccurbetweenpoliticians,activists,andinterestgroupsthrough openquestion-and-answerrounds.Otherconstructionscan bethecoffeetableset-upwhichallowsparticipantstoengage inconversationsamongstotherstoexploreanddevelopperspectives,ideas,andopinions,andbeprovidedwitheducationalmaterialorotherinput.Theoutputofsuchanorganizationwillmostoftenbeanopportunitytospeakandofficials committonomorethanlisteningandconsideringtheopinionsspoken(Fung, 2006).Deliberation,bargaining,andaggregationwillsometimesbeusedinpublicdecision-making wherebythepublicopinionisbroughtforwardthroughthe meansofpowerandsocialchoice,however,mostpublicpoliciesanddecisionsaredeterminedbythetechnicalexperts andofficialsthataretrainedandeducatedinthefieldi.e. planners.Thisdoesnotinvolvethecitizens(Fung, 2006).

e.Achangedpractice

Fung (2006)hasdevelopedaframeworkforthedifferent waysofdesigningparticipation.Hearguesthatparticipationservesthreeimportantdemocraticvalues:legitimacy, justice,andtheeffectivenessofpublicaction,andwritesthat theuseofthedifferentmechanismsdependsonthesituation.Byadvancingthedifferentmechanisms,thethreevaluesareequallyadvanced.Although Fung (2006)provides aframeworkforunderstandingparticipation,heonlyillustratesthedifferencesanddoesnotprovideaproposaltoradicallychangeparticipationprocesses.

Accordingto Harrisetal. (2010)thereisagrowingdisinterestintraditionalparticipationamongyoungpeople.The phenomenonisarguedtoberootedintheperceivedrelevanceofpolitics,anditsunresponsivenesstoyoungpeople’sneedsandinterests.Anevolutioninparticipationis occurringwhereespeciallyyoungpeoplearemorefocused onqualityoflifeissueswhichhasshapedanewformof cultural/sub-culturalparticipationfocusingonmoreindividualizedformsofactivismsuchasbrandboycottsandrecycling(Harrisetal., 2010).Theauthorsarguethatthereisa needtoreevaluatetheconventionalmeasuresofparticipation ifthenextgenerationistobeengaged. Marmolejo-Ramos etal. (2022)likewisestressestheimportanceofmodifying ‘conventional’publicengagementstrategies.Governments aretodayrealizingthebenefitsandimportanceofengaging thepublicasitleadstobetteradaptationforex.policiesin society.However,itcanbeconcludedthatanewperspective ontraditionalparticipationisnecessary.

1.Collaborativeplanning

Fortunately,adifferentperspectiveonparticipationalready exists.Growingthemesinresearchandwhendiscussinghow toimproveparticipationprocesses,conceptslikeco-design,

co-production,co-creation,andempowermentarepresent.

Accordingto InnesandBooher (2004)anewmodelofparticipationisnecessaryandtheauthorspropose CollaborativeParticipation asthewayforward.Accordingtothem, collaborativeparticipationcanhelpsolvecomplexproblems throughdialogue,networking,andinstitutionalcapacityas threeimportantfactors.Animportantpointinthistheoryis thatparticipationhasto: "incorporatenotonlycitizensbut alsoorganizedinterests,profit-makingandnon-profitorganizations,plannersandpublicadministratorsinacommon frameworkwhereallareinteractingandinfluencingoneanotherandallareactingindependentlyintheworldaswell" (InnesandBooher, 2004,p.419).Inthisway,communicationisnolongerone-wayfromeithergovernmenttocitizens ortheotherwayaround,butinsteadamulti-wayinteractionamongstmultipleactorsthattogetherproduceoutcomes. Bycollectingvariousinterests,thecollaborationacrossthe groupshasthepotentialtocreateownershipandinnovation forsolutionstocomplexsocietalissues(InnesandBooher, 2004).

Collaborativeparticipationdiffersfromtraditionalparticipationrequirementsasdialogueisatthecoreandthatitis inclusivetostakeholders.Itseeksto: "addresstheinterests ofall,allowingtimeforthesetobeexplored.Participants -publicagencies,powerfulprivateinterests,anddisadvantagedcitizens—aretreatedequallywithinthediscussions"

(InnesandBooher, 2004,p.426)Thisalsorelatestothe powerdifferencesthatarepresentinparticipationanditaims atequalizingthedifferencesbetweenthepublicandtheprofessionals(InnesandBooher, 2004). Painter (2019)likewise discussesamorecollaborativeapproachtopublicparticipationandarguesthatco-productioncanremovethepowerdifferencesthatarecurrentlyunderminingcommunities’abilitytoimpactprocesses.Accordingtothem,co-production isaboutchangingtheprocessestowardsamore’equitable powerandresourcedistributions’(Painter, 2019).

InnesandBooher (2004)arguethatmuchsuccessfromthe collaborativeapproachhasalreadybeenharvested.Through dialogue,equalempowermentandinformation,openness, andmutualrespect,changesarehappeningandnewideas andchangedviewsarerecognizedwhichmakesitpossible toworkthroughissuesinjointaction.Informalandinformaldiscussionscitizensorgovernmentbodiesinteract, insteadofreactingtooneanother.Theapproachissaidto advancelegitimacy,fairness,andjusticeifprocessesaredesignedtoallowmulti-wayinteractionsamongstaninclusive setofstakeholders(InnesandBooher, 2004).

However,collaborativeparticipationisanidealthatcan neverbeachievedentirely.Itreliesheavilyonresponsive andwillinggovernmentbodiesandpoweriscontinuouslya dilemmainparticipation(InnesandBooher, 2004).

f.Framework

Throughthisliteraturereview,threetheoreticalstandshave beenintroduced.Theparticipatoryparadoxby Reinertand Sinning (1997),identifiesatemporaldimensioninpublic participationanddiscussestheissueofinterestandopportunityforparticipationpeakingatdifferenttimes.Thedemocracycubeby Fung (2006)concerningvarietiesofparticipationanddifferentmechanismsfordesigningprocesses.And lastly,thecollaborativeparticipationconceptsby Innesand

Booher (2004),presentanewapproachtoparticipationthat reliesonmulti-waydialogue,abreakfromtraditionalpower structures,andaneedtocollaborateacrossdifferentstakes. Elementsfromallthreetheoriesformaframeworkforwhat contemporaryparticipationislackingandwhatneedsto changeforparticipationtobecomemoredemocratic,legitimate,andinclusive.Summarizeditincludesmoreinvolvement,betterprocesses,andincreasedinfluenceforthepublic. However,whatnonofthevariousauthorsdiscussishow thepubliccanbecomeequalstakeholdersinpublicprocesses whenpowerfulprofessionalsholddifferenttoolsandknowledgeforspecificallydesigningprojects.Inchapter IV,anew AItechnologyispresentedthatcouldholdthekeytobreachingthisgapandaffecttheparticipatoryparadox.

III.M ETHODOLOGY

ThisresearchisbasedonacasestudyofthenewArtificial Intelligencesoftware:Midjourney.ArtificialIntelligenceis notanewconcept,butMidjourneyis.Thishasaffectedthe choiceofcasestudyapproach,whichisanexploratorycase study.Thelackofexistingliteratureonthesubjectandthe desiretounderstandtheperceptionsofpeopleregardingthis specifictoolmakesanexploratorycasestudyrelevantasit allowstheresearchtogoin-depthwithacontemporarycase inareal-lifecontext(Yin, 2010).

Withthistypeofcasestudy,qualitativemethodsarethereforenatural,astheyareaboutuncoveringthemeaningof aspecificphenomenon.Multipleopinionsarepresent,and qualitativeresearchisaboutexploringhowpeopleinterpret differentphenomenaandwhatmeaningtheygivetothese (TisdellandMerriam, 2009),whichispreciselywhatthisarticleaimsfor.Theseinterpretationsandopinionsaredesired tobeunfoldedanddeciphered.Thisqualitativeresearchcollectsdatafromthreemethods;literaturereview,interview, andworkshop.

a.Datacollection

Thepurposeofcollectingdatawastogainatheoreticaland empiricalunderstandingofparticipation,ArtificialIntelligence,andspecificallytheexperienceofMidjourney.The literaturereviewaimstopresentthestate-of-the-artinthe differenttheoreticalscholarsthatthisresearchisconsulting. Theliteraturereviewdirectstheresearchtowardtheproblem andisawayofdevelopingtheargumentation.Reviewing variousconceptshelpstheresearcherunderstandanddevelop asoundresearchdesignandisfinalizedbyaframework(Farthing, 2016).Drawingfromtheoreticalconceptsfrom ReinertandSinning (1997), Fung (2006)and InnesandBooher (2004),aframeworkofimportantfactorsarefoundandacts asaguidefortheanalysisanditsfocus.

Theempiricaldataforthisresearchwasderivedfromthe methodsofinterviewsandworkshop.Bothmethodswere conductedinasemi-structuredway,withapreparedplanand questionsthatactedasguidelinesratherthanafirmoutline. Thisapproachgivestheparticipantsfreedomtoelaborate, addthemesorshapetheconversation,whilstitalsogives theresearchertheoptiontoaskopen-endedquestionsand changescourseifneeded.Transcriptionsofbothinterviews canbefoundinAppendix B and C.BecauseMidjourneyisa rathernewresearchtopicandverylittleliteratureexistsabout

it,itwasusefultoconductsemi-structuredinterviewsand workshopastherewaslittleexperiencetoleanon(Farthing, 2016).

b.Interview

OneinterviewwasconductedwithKjaiTjokrokoesoemo, DesignerandlecturerinurbanplanningatDeZwarteHond &DelftUniversityofTechnology.TjokrokoesoemoisanexperiencedUrbanDesignerandhasbeencrucialinintroducingMidjourneytoDeZwarteHond,heis,therefore,akey individualtointerview.Thegoalsoftheinterviewwereto gaininsightintothereasoningbehindgettingthesoftwareto DeZwarteHond,todiscusshisopinionsonthesoftwareand itspotentialofit,alongtoadiscussiononthetool’sapplicabilitytothepublic.TjokrokoesoemoandDeZwarteHond havealreadyappliedforfundingforaresearchproposalthat willinvestigatethecontributionofMidjourneyinpublicparticipation.Theresearcherplayedaroleinthisprojectwhich alsopromptedtheideaofthisresearch.

c.Workshop

Aworkshopwasconductedthroughouttheinternshipperiod. Thegoalofthisworkshopwastoallowagroupoftestsubjectstouse,exploreandnavigatethetooltoinformtheresearchabouttheprosandconsofusingMidjourneyandshare theiropinionsabouttheuseofAIwiththepublicfromthe perspectiveofurbandesignersandarchitects.

Theworkshopwasconductedwithfiveparticipants,allinternsatDeZwarteHond.Twooftheparticipantsworkin theUrbandepartmentand3oftheparticipantsworkinthe Architecturedepartment.Theselectionofparticipantswas routedforacoupleofreasons.Firstly,therewasaninterestinunderstandingthenextgenerationofpractitionersand theirviewsonthesoftware,astheywillbethenextgeneration.Secondly,theyholdknowledgewithinthefieldandalreadyhaveanunderstandingofdealingwithandinteracting withthepublicandthereforeunderstandsomeofthedifferencesandsimilaritiesbetweentheprofessionalandthepublic.Asaspiringprofessionalsthatareusedtoconnectingwith thepublic,theycanbeseenasqualifiedparticipantsforthis small-scaleanalysis.Thirdly,thegroupisnewtothecompanyandhadnoexperienceorknowledgeaboutthesoftware whichmadethemgoodcandidatestoimitatethepublicand theknowledgethattheywouldhaveiftheytriedthesoftware.Theresultsfromthisstudycanthereforebeusedto understandhowthepublicwouldreacttothetool.Thismade itpossiblefortheresearchertogetagoodunderstandingof howintuitivethesoftwareisandwhatwouldbeimportantto explainifintroducingthesoftwaretoagroup.Italsohelped enlightentheresearcheronthepowerdynamicsthatnaturally areseenbetweentheprofessionalandthepublic.

Theworkshopwasinitiatedwithashortintroductionto thesoftwareandthetaskahead.Thetaskwastoimagine theparticipant’schildhoodneighborhoodandimaginethatit neededanewcommunityhub/culturecenter.Hereafter,they wereaskedtocreate4-5imageswithdifferentdistribution prompts.Thegoaloftheworkshopwasnottocreatepretty imagesofhubs,butrathertoallowtheparticipantstotrythe softwareandtohavethemstartthinkingaboutit.Following theapproximately25minutesoftryingMidjourney,asemistructuredinterviewwasconductedattheroundtablemaking

itpossibleforeveryonetopitchin,whereintheresearcher actedasmediatorgivingeveryoneachancetospeak.

IV.A NALYSIS

Theliteraturereviewsummarizesaseriesofimportantfactorsthatdifferentscholarsareadvocatingforwhenperformingparticipation.Participationneedstoincludeanincreased influencefromthepublic,aredistributionofpower,earlier involvement,andlastlytheuseofcollaborativeparticipation whichincludesmanyoftheothercharacteristics(Arnstein, 1969; InnesandBooher, 2004; Fung, 2006).Thegoalof thisanalysisistoinvestigatehowtheparticipatoryparadox canbeaddressedthroughMidjourney,andhowAIcanshape contemporaryparticipation.Usingtheparticipatoryparadox itsdifferentelementsareinterpretedandisguidingtheanalysisstructure.Theparadoxismadeupoffourelements:1. interestfromthepublic,2.opportunitytoparticipate,3.temporaldimensionbasedonthetimingofaproject,4.power, whichisnotdirectlyrepresentedinthediagramhoweveran inevitabledimension.DrawingfromaworkshopwithfuturepractitionersinArchitectureandUrbanplanning,and fromaninterviewwithanexperiencedplanner,thesefour elementsareaddressedinthecaseofMidjourneyanditsapplicabilityinpublicparticipation.

a.Deeplearning:Midjourney

BeforeinitiatingtheanalysisbasedonMidjourney,thesectionbelowdescribesthesoftwareindetail,bothintermsof itshistory,technicality,andpotential.Asanewconceptin theworldofArtificialIntelligence,itisprovingtobeinterestingwhendiscussingparticipation.

Ingeneral,thehumanmindisveryvisual.Wheneverpeoplearelisteningorreadingstories,theyimmediatelycreatevisualrepresentationsandimagesintheirmind(Stephen M.KosslynandThompson, 2001). "Manycognitivefunctions,suchasmemorization,reasoningability,andthinking, relyonvisualmentalimagingor“seeingwiththemind’s eye” (Ramzanetal., 2022,p.1).Accordingto Stephen M.KosslynandThompson (2001)mentalimageryoccurs whenthehumanmindprocessinformationthroughstored memories.Thehumanbrainisnotonlyabletoimagineexactmemoriesandimagesbutisalsoabletocombineand modifythesementalmemoriesintouniqueimages.

Whatthisarticleisexploringistheissuethatalthoughthe humanbraincanvisualizetheseintricateimages,mostpeopledonothavetheskillsettotranslatetheseideasintophysicaldrawingsorsketches.WithnewAItechnology,people arenowable.Thisispossiblebecauseofdeeplearningand text-to-imagemachines.Deeplearningisamajorconcept withinAI.Deeplearningisahighlycomplexconcept.Itcan beexplainedasacomputerlearningfromlargedatasetsto depictanddistinguishbetweenmillionsofvariablesinimage pixels(Benac, 2022; VOX, 2022).Whendiscussingthespecifictypeofdeeplearningaboutcreatingimages,deeplearningisabouthowamachineistrainedtonavigatehundredsof dimensionstounderstandimagesandtocreateuniqueones. Thisismealyabriefexplanation,asthecomplexityofthe actualalgorithmincludesmuchmoretechnicalconceptsand exceedsthescopeofthisresearch(VOX, 2022).Instead,the focuswillbeontheoutputofthesemachines.Text-to-image

(T2I)isaconceptwithindeeplearningandisarelatively newterm.ItcorrespondstoamethodusedinAIwhereby visuallyrealisticimagesaregeneratedthroughadescription textwrittenbyahuman(Ramzanetal., 2022).Thedeep learningmodelsworkby "decipheringdatabetweenpicture andtext" (VOX, 2022).Preliminarystudiesalreadyseeimmensepotentialfromusingtext-to-imageinareaslikephotoediting,artgenerationportraitdrawing,orindustrialdesign (Ramzanetal., 2022).Itisthereforehighlycontemporary andinterestingtounderstandhowthesepotentialsrelateto UrbanplanningandArchitectureandcouldhavepotential whendiscussingpublicparticipation.

Withinthewidefieldoftext-to-image,severaldifferent machinesaredoingsimilarthingsbasedonavarietyof trainedmodels-Midjourneyisoneofthesemachines.Midjourneyisanindependentresearchlabthatisexploringdeep learning.Theyhavedevelopedanonlinetoolwhereitispossibletogenerateimagespurelybasedontheword"imagine". Intheirownwords,thecompanyis "exploringnewmediums ofthoughtandexpandingtheimaginativepowersofthehumanspecies" (Midjourney, N.D.).Inotherwords,Midjourneyisbreachingthegapbetweenthehumanbrain’svisual imaginationandtheproductionofphysicalimages.Ittakesa stepfurtherinnotonlyimaginingtheimagesbutportraying theminphysicalillustrations.

Referringbacktotraditionalpublicparticipationpractice, publicmeetingsandhearingsmostoftenoccurwhenprojects arewellintothedesignphase(ReinertandSinning, 1997). Thisalsomeansthattherewilloftenbesomeformofvisualizationofplansorproposalsmadebyplannersorarchitects(Münsteretal., 2017).Ashasbeendescribed,visual communicationisapowerfultoolasitimmediatelyreflects thehumanbrainandhasexplainingabilitiesthatwordscannotcompareto(Ramzanetal., 2022; StephenM.Kosslyn andThompson, 2001).Therefore,architecturalvisualizationsandplansareveryconvincing.However,asmentioned above,untilnowonlyafewcancreateimages,butwithMidjourneythisisnolongerthecase.It,therefore,holdsthe potentialtoinfluencetheparticipatoryparadox.

b.EnhancingopportunitiesandinterestusingMidjourney

Onceasubscriptioniscreated,Midjourneyisopentouseby anyonewiththelogindetails.Midjourney’sinterfacelooks verydifferentfromtheordinarywebsiteasitlooksmorelike acodingpage.Midjourneydoesalsocallfor"codinglanguage",howeveronlyusessimplecommandstowork.Usingthecommand/imagine,followedbythedesiredprompt (descriptiontext),nothingelseisrequiredforthesoftwareto createanimage.ThesimplicityoftheMidjourneycanbe arguedtobeitsstrength.Auserdoesnotneedtoknowmuch aboutcodingorAItomakeimages.Allthatisneededis imaginationandaseriesofwords.Inthisway,moreorless allpeoplecanmakeimages.InaYoutubevideo,journalists gooutonthestreetandaskpeopletoimaginedifferentimages.Theyaskallkindsofpeople,andalthoughtheydonot themselveswritethepromptinthesoftware,theyarestill abletomakeanimagefromtheirtext(VOX, 2022).This illustratestheusabilityofthesoftwareandthepotentialof involvingmorepeople.AsMidjourneythemselveswriteon

theirwebsite,thesoftwareisabout: "exploringnewmediumsofthoughtandexpandingtheimaginativepowersofthe humanspecies" (Midjourney, N.D.).

Intheworkshop,allfiveparticipantshadnevertriedthe softwarebefore.Fromafewtipsandasmallintroduction, theywereallabletomakeimagesandhadnoproblemgeneratingvariousoptions(seefigure 3 foraselection).Although thesoftwareissosimpletouse,thereishoweveralearningcurve,orratheranacceptancecurve.Oneoftheparticipantssaid,whilstshewasmakingimages,thattheywerenot turningoutverygoodandthatshewastryingtomakesomethingelsebutcouldnotgetthere.Thisisoneofthepoints thatkeepscomingbackwhenusingthesoftware,andwhen askingpeopletotryit.BecauseMidjourneyisbasedondescriptionsfromimagesuploadedtotheinternet,itcannever, evenwithintricatedistributions,produceimagesthatareexactlywhatisimagined.Apartofthesoftwarewillrandomize whatisproducedwhichisalsothereasonwhyimages,with thesameprompt,willneverturnoutthesame.Theparticipantswere,duringtheworkshop,discussinghowthetool couldbeimproved.Oneoftheirideaswastobeabletobuild ontheimagesthatyoucreate.Forexample,onemightlikea building,butnotthebackground.Hereitwould,accordingto theworkshopparticipants,beusefulwiththeoptiontokeep specificpartsoftheimagesandaddextrawordstomakethe imageevenmorepreciseandclosertowhattheinitialidea was.

frustrationsastheworkshopparticipants.Hesaid "Igetabit frustratedandthenyouseethelimitationsofthesoftware... ormaybethelimitationsinyourself." Heisreferringtothe factthattheimagesthataregeneratedareneverexactlywhat youhadinmind,buthedoesn’tthinkthatthisisonlyalimitation.Inthedesignprocesses,mistakescanhappenandit isinthisprocessthatinspirationisfoundandisthereasonto thinkofdifferentandnewthings.So,althoughitcanbefrustratingthattheexactimagesarenotfound,healsoseesthis asawaytothinkoutsidethebox(Tjokrokoesoemo, 2022).

Returningtotheparticipatoryparadox,theexperience withMidjourneycouldbothenhancetheinterestandopportunityofthepublic.Theinterest,besidesofcoursetheapplicabilityandthespecificsofaproject,issecuredthrough thesoftware’ssimplicity.Anyonethatcanwritecanmake promptsandimagesonthesamelevelasaprofessional.This isexactlythestrengthofMidjourney,asitgivesthepublic thepowertocreateimagesofequalqualityasaprofessional. Asisdiscussedwiththeparadox,anissuewithearlyparticipationisthatprojectsareabstractandgoals,strategies,and principlesarestillbeingformedandspecified(Reinertand Sinning, 1997).Thismeansthatprojectscanbedifficultto understandfromapublicperspective.However,attheearly

Fig.3: Selectionofimagesproducedduringworkshop Urbanplanner Tjokrokoesoemo (2022),hasfeltsimilar

stage,theopportunitiestochangeandchallengedecisionsare atthehighestwhichmeansinvolvingthepublichere,could givethemthebiggestimpact.Followingthecollaborative theoryofparticipationandengaginginmutualandmulti-way dialoguescombinedwiththeAIsoftwarewouldprovidewith thepublicwithmoreinterestinengagingearly(Innesand Booher, 2004).Opportunitiestoengagearehighlyrelianton thepowerfulprofessionalandgovernmentbodieswhichwill beaddressedfurtherbelow.

c.Apowerstruggleandtheroleofthepractitioner

Theredistributionofpowerisarguedtobeimportantwhen desiringdemocraticandgenuinepublicparticipation(Arnstein, 1969).Thereisaneedfordevolutionofpowerwhichis possiblethroughdeliberationandcollaboration(MarmolejoRamosetal., 2022; InnesandBooher, 2004).Transferring powertothepublicandaddressingallinterestswhilstdisregardingpowerpositionsisthetruewayofparticipation. Today’spracticeishoweverfilledwillpowerdifferencesand professionalsholdingontotheirpower(Fung, 2006).

ItisunknownwhatthepublicfeelsaboutMidjourneyand itsabilitytoredistributepower,asthesewerenotinterviewed inthisresearch.However,theonesthatneedtogiveup poweraretheprofessionals-someareclientsandgovernmentbodiesbutalotaretheplanners.Bothfuturepractitionersandprofessionalplannerswereaskedabouttheroles ofthepublicandhowMidjourneycouldinfluenceparticipation.Variousopinionscametolightduringtheworkshopand theinterview,concerningtheperceptionoftheopportunityto allowthepublicaccesstothesoftware.

Accordingto Tjokrokoesoemo (2022),thesoftwarehas potentialandcanbeusedbytheplanner,andshouldbeused byplannersasatool.Heespeciallyseesthatthesoftware hasthepotential, "...indealingwithnon-expertsofbridging thatgapthatwehaveatthemoment." Itallowsbothparties tounderstandeachotherbetter.Midjourneyhasthepotential tobeathirdpartyoranobjectiveelementthathasnobiases andisneutralindiscussions Tjokrokoesoemo (2022).

WhendiscussingMidjourneysapplicationforthepublicwithfuturepractitioners,variousopinionscametolight. Someoftheparticipantswerepositivetowardsthesoftware whilstothersweremoreskeptical.Onthepositiveside,one perspectivewasthatMidjourneycouldbeasteptowards moreparticipation.Itwasarguedthatimplementingthesoftwarecouldbeawayofchangingthestandardpracticeof designersdesigningandpubliccommenting.Inthisnew way,thepubliccanalsobetheproducers,whichshethought wouldempowerpeopletoparticipatemoreastheycouldsee theirresultsonpaperandnot "justfloatupintoair".The powerofimageswasalsobroughtup.Oneparticipantarguedthat "withimagesyoucanconvincebettersometimes thanwithwords." Andshethoughtthisshouldbegivento people(Workshop, 2022).

Thesameparticipantthoughtthiscouldbeaninteresting wayofdoingparticipation.Sheexpressedthatitcansometimesbedifficulttounderstandthepublicopinion,aseveryonehasanimageintheirmind,butitishardtounderstand whatthepubliciswantingorsaying.AddingMidjourney centerstheconversationonsomethingspecificallowingthe twopartiestoworkonsomethingmorespecific.Shestressed thatworkingtogetherispossibleevenforpeoplewithouta

designbackground,asimagescanbecreatedbyanyone.A differentparticipantalsosawthepotentialofusingthetool withthepublic,andthattheexchangebetweenthepublic atheprofessionalscouldbechangedfromverbaltomore visualexchange.Shethoughtthismightspeeduptheprocessastheimagesareeasiertounderstandandcanbothhelp thepublicandtheprofessionalsgetabetterunderstanding (Workshop, 2022).

Midjourney’simplementationandimpactonthepower differencebetweenprofessionalsandthepublicwasatheme duringtheworkshop.Aparticipantsaidthatshethoughtthe powerwasstillinthedesigner’shands.Theexchangebetweentheprofessionalandthepublicmightbemoreequalif imagesareused,however,theprofessionalsarenotalways theonesinpower.Inheropinion,thefieldofArchitecture andUrbandesignisverysubjective. "...Thereareplentyof solutionsandtherewillneverbeonesolution,soit’snotlike withfindingtheCovidvaccineorsomething...itissuperhard becauseeveryonehastheirownvisiontowardssomething." Clients,professionals,andthepublicallhaveopinionsand eventually,achoicehastobemade.Forher,thismeansthat theprofessionalsandtheclientswillalwayshavepowerbecause,intheend,theyhavetomakeadecision.Shealso saidthattheclientsometimeswantssomethingspecific,there mightbebudgetconcernsorenvironmentalfactors,andthat inthesecaseseventheplannersarepowerlessastheclients havethelastsayinwhatwillbebuilt(Workshop, 2022).

Onthemoreskepticalside,therewerevariousopinions. Oneperspectiveisconcernedwithafearthatgivingthesoftwaretothepubliccouldinduceexpectationsthatareimpossibletorealize.Midjourneywascomparedtothesoftware Pinterest,whichpeopleusetofindinspiration.Oneparticipantbelievedthatpeoplewithoutaprofessionalbackground wouldaskforcomplexarchitecturethatisnotpossibleto makeandthattheydonotunderstandwhatitentails.She believedthatamoreproperwayofusingthetoolisbyusing ittocreatereferencesinsteadofmakingeveryoneadesigner.

Forsomeparticipants,thebeliefwasthatthepublicisnot abletouseit.Itwasbelievedthatthepublicdoesnothavethe right’architecturallibraryofwords’tomakeimagesthatare preciseenough.Oneparticipantusedtheexamplethatthe publicmightwrite’boxbuilding’insteadofmoreintricate detaileddescriptionsofthebuilding’sappearancethatonly theprofessionalshave.Anotherparticipantagreed.

"Idon’tthinkthatanyonethatisn’treallyfamiliarwitharchitectureordesigncangenerateimagesthatareusefulandindiscussionslikethis,or getaresultthattheymightdosomethingwith...I don’treallyseeanyapplianceinitforlikeuneducatedaudiences,it’stoodifficultIsupposedtoget something,topinpointsomethinguseful."

Inhisopinion,theimagesthataregeneratedaretooabstractorgenericanddonotpromoteenoughtotalkabout.He insteadsawthatitcouldandshouldbeusedbyprofessionals to’breakcreativelimitations’,orforfindingreferenceimages.Anotherparticipantagreed,accordingtohimanissue withMidjourneyisitsabstractionlevel.Hebelievedthatabstractimagesarenotabadthingforprofessionals,butthat peoplewithoutadesignorartisticbackgroundmightstruggletousethesoftware.

Althoughquiteafewoftheparticipantsraisedtheirconcernswiththetool,anotherparticipantdisagreedandsaid thatshedidnotthinkthattheprofessionalsshouldnotunderestimatethepeople.Shereferredtoconversationsshehas withherfriendsaboutherarchitecturalprojects,andhowshe wouldoftenover-explainandfindthattheyunderstandalot morethansheexpected.

"...becauseeveryonekindoflivesinthebuiltenvironment...andverballymostpeoplearequite equipped,justnotindrawing."

Thispointwasalsoreferredtoby Tjokrokoesoemo (2022), howeverinhisopiniondesignersandarchitectssometimes usetoomuchprofessionallanguagewithoutevenknowingit. Heseesthisasabigproblemandonethatimpactsprocesses withnon-experts.Professionalswillsometimesthinkinwide perspectivesorwithlongtimeframes,however,heargued thattheprofessionalsmustbeabletodiscusswithpeople fromneighborhoodsthatmightnotthinkaboutthenext20 yearsbutratherthenextweek.

Windingbacktotheparticipatoryparadox,powerisa themethathasabigimpact.Withmostlegallyrequiredparticipation,themostpowerfulstakeholdersdeterminewhois involved,howtheyareinvolved,whataprocessmightlook like,andwhattheoutcomeofitmightbe(InnesandBooher, 2004; Münsteretal., 2017).WithMidjourneyandinretrospecttotheinterviewwiththeprofessionalandaspiring plannersitisclearthatpowerisimpactingparticipationand thatitdependsonwhoisaskedandtheirownopinions.Some oftheworkshopparticipantsthoughtMidjourneycouldplay aroleinmakingparticipationmoreequal,whilstotherswere muchmoreskepticalanddidnotseethepointofincluding thepublicwithouttherightknowledgeandskills.Therefore, thedistributionofpowerandtheimportanceofparticipation needtoberedistributedifparticipationshouldevenbecome legitimateanddemocratic.As InnesandBooher (2004)says, creatingcollaborativeparticipationrequiresresponsiveand willinggovernmentbodies.

d.Timingofinvolvement

Thelastdimensionwithintheparticipatoryparadoxrelates tothetimingofparticipating,bothintermsoftheoptionfor thepublictoparticipateandforthepublic’sinterestinit.As ithasbeendetermined,Midjourneyisahighlyversatilesoftwareandcanthereforebeusedatanytimeandformultiple purposesinparticipation.

Manyoftheworkshopparticipantssawauseforthesoftwareintheearlystagesofprojectsfromtheperspectiveof theprofessional.Theysaidthatfindingreferenceimagescan takealongtimeandbequitedifficult,andthesoftware,Midjourneycouldhelpmakethistaskeasierandfaster.Oneparticipantsaidthathethoughtthesoftwarecouldbeaniceway offindingabaselinefordifferentthings.Heusedtheexampleofthecommunitycenterandarguedthatusingthesoftwaretocreateabaselineandtomakevariationsofitcould beaninterestingwayofusingthetool.Ingeneral,seeing whatthesoftwareseesasanarchetypicalcenterhesawas interesting.Relatedtothis, Tjokrokoesoemo (2022)alsodiscussedtheuseofMidjourneyasawayofgettinginspiration. Hecalledita’randomideagenerator’,andbyusingtheim-

agesproduced,inspirationcanbedrawnfromthistomove thedesignprocess.

Imagescreatedbyprofessionalsarenottheonlywayto getinspiration.Oneparticipantthoughtthattherearetwo waysofdoingit-imagescanbemadebyprofessionalsand thepublicgivestheiropiniononthem,whichismuchliketoday’sprocessofparticipation.Orontheotherhand,havethe publicmakesimagesthemselvesandhandthesetothedesignerstoworkwith(Workshop, 2022).Thelastideamakes itpossibletopushtheparadoxasitallowsthepublictobe theonestocreatereferenceimagesandinspiretheprofessionalsinsteadoftheotherwayaround.Thisalsorelatesto thecollaborativeparticipationtheorythatarguesforaneed tointeractmorethanreact(InnesandBooher, 2004).

Bycreatingmoreinterestandbetteropportunitiesforthe publictoengageinparticipation,Midjourneydoeshold thepotentialtopushthetemporalissuethattheparadox presentsandgiveopportunitiestoengageinearlyparticipation.Thestruggleforpowerdoeshoweverremain,makinganyprogressformoreequalprocessesreliesheavilyon powerfulstakeholdersandtheirwillingnesstochangecurrentpractice(InnesandBooher, 2004).

e.Sub-conclusion

Asaconclusiontotheanalysis,Midjourneyhasbeenargued tobeabletoaddressandaffecttheparticipatoryparadox andtherebymovetheinterestfromthepublictothestartof projects,whilstalsoallowingtheopportunitiestoengageto becontinuouslyhigh.Figure 4 demonstratestheevolutionof theparadox,thatMidjourneycouldpromote,ifitwasused attheearlystagesofprojects.

V.D ISCUSSION

Fromtheanalysis,ithasbeenargued,thatMidjourneydoes holdthepotentialtoaddressandaffecttheparticipationparadox.Asforthisdiscussion,thepotentialvaluesfromMidjourneywillbediscussedlookingtowardthefutureofparticipation.AlongwiththepotentialsofMidjourney,adiscussiononpowerandtheroleoftheplanneralsopresentsvital partsindevelopingthepracticeofpublicparticipation.

Fig.4: Theparticipatoryparadoxincludingtheimplementationof Midjourney,Ownfigure

a.Avaluabletool

Fromtheanalysis,ithasbeenconcludedthatMidjourney canbringmuchvaluetotheparticipatorypractice.Froma professionalperspective,itallowsthepractitionersto’break outofthemold’andgetinspiredbyuniqueimagescreated specificallyforthecontextandtask(Workshop, 2022).One oftheworkshopparticipantshadaninterestingpointinthis regard,hesaid: "Designersandthehumansareingeneral limited,soourimaginationandour...inspirationsareactuallyquitelimitedwhenyoucomparedtoasoftwarealgorithm...Itaddsdimensionstodesignprocess".Inthat sense,Midjourneycontributestocreativethinkingandcould bevaluableinaprofessionalidea-generationprocess.

Fromthepublicperspective,whichwasthemostimportantpartofthisresearch,thesoftwarecanbringnewvalues tocontemporaryparticipation.Thepublic’slackofabilityto illustrateanddesignonpapercanberemediedthroughthe useofMidjourney,whichgivesthepublicthepowertoact equallyamongstprofessionals.Asatool,itallowsthepublic togeneratevisualimages,concepts,andinspirationpurely basedonwordsandtheirimagination.

Fromthetheoryofcollaborativeparticipation,multi-way dialogueispresentedasanimportantfactorfordemocratic participation(InnesandBooher, 2004).Asthecurrentpracticeofparticipationisgroundedonthepublic’sfeedbackon intricateproposalsthatprofessionalscreate,theintroduction ofMidjourneyhasthepotentialtoreverseorequalizethis process.TheAIisinawayworkingasatranslatorbetween twoparties,asitgivesthepublicthepowerofvisualizing theirideasandcanbeawaytostartadialogueonanequal base.Ifbothprofessionalsandthepublicuseandcreateimagesfromthesamesoftware,allimageswillhavethesame value.

Anaspect,thathasnotbeenprominentinthisresearchis theneedtoenhancethediversityofwhoisinvolvedinparticipation,bothintermsofdifferentstakeholdersandfrom differentcitizengroups.Midjourneyitselfdoesnotmake participationprocessesmorerepresentative.However,as Fung (2006)argues,thevastmajorityofparticipantsare silentwatchersonlyattendingtogetinformation.Midjourneyholdsthepotentialtogiveormotivatetheseparticipants toparticipatemoreactively.Andagain,becauseofthesoftware’suser-friendliness,allparticipantscanmakeimages withouthavingtohaveaspecialbackgroundandtechnically alsowithouthavingtospeakup.Theoutputofparticipation, wheremoregroupsarerepresentedandwheremoreopinions,ideas,anddialogueshavebeenhad,canonlybeofmore valuethanwhattraditionalpublicmeetingsdo.

b.Theroleoftheplanner

ThevalueofMidjourneyisinevitable,however,theroleof theprofessionalisimportantasthesearewhoaretoimplementanewpractice.Althoughboththefutureandcurrent practitionersinthisresearchseepotentialinthesoftware, thereisalsoabelief,thatthepubliccannotuseitalone.

Tjokrokoesoemo (2022)arguedthatplannersshouldbethere toguidethepublic.Inthisregard,hediscussedtheevolving roleofthepractitioners.

"...asanurbandesigneryouarenotapresenter butyouareamoderatorintalks...Butthereshould beabalance,Imeansometimeswehavetobethe presenter,andsometimeswehavetoinspirepeople todothingsdifferently.Butespeciallythemoderatingpart,solisteningandaskingtherightquestions andingettingpeopleengagedandinunderstandingtheirexpertiseaboutareas,thatissomething weshoulddowaymoreandIbelievethatMidjourneycouldhelp" (Tjokrokoesoemo, 2022).

WhenthesoftwarewasfirstintroducedatDeZwarte Hondsoffice,therewerediscussionsaboutwhetherthetool couldeventuallytakeoverforthearchitectsandtheurban designers.Althoughtheopinionofsomeisthatthepubliccanandshouldusethesoftware,italonecannotsubstitutetheprofessionals.Accordingto Tjokrokoesoemo (2022) theprofessionals "...areexpertsinreadingimagesandinterpretingandmaybetranslationeven...withoutinterpretation, withouttranslationthenpeoplecangetlostandthenthat’s whenweshouldbethere." Thisalsocoincideswiththepreviousopinionthattheplannersaremoreoftenmoderatorsand shouldallowthepublicsomedesigningpowerandthisdoes notmeanremovingtheimportantroleoftheprofessional.

Accordingto Tjokrokoesoemo (2022),a’gooddesigner mustbeableandwillingtogiveuppower. "...ifyouarea gooddesignerthenyouareverymuchcomfortable,youare verymuchconfidentinwhatyouaredoing..." Ifhowever,you arenotconfidentwithwhatyouaredoing, Tjokrokoesoemo (2022)arguedthismightresultinprofessionalsthatarenot willingtoopenupthedesignprocessandallowpeopleto contribute.Inhisopinion,thepublic’sopinionisanimportantingredientinthedesignprocessandonethatshouldalwaysbepresent.

Interestingly,muchoftheskepticismaboutthesoftware comesfromfuturepractitionersandnotexistingplanners.As participationbecomesstillmoreimportant,futurepractitionershavetobeopentochangeandmustbeabletomovewith thetimes.Redistributingpowerrelatestoeveryoneinthe planningindustryi.e.clients,contractors,designers,planners,andarchitects,andallowingthepublicgenuineinfluenceinprojectsiskeyinthecominggeneration(Healey, 1996; Lane, 2005).Therefore,theworkshopdiscussionwith futurepractitionerscanbeawarningandawake-upcallthat whateducationalinstitutionsareteachingisnottheopenness towardsthepublicthatitshouldbe.However,therearealso otherreasonsastowhysomeoftheworkshopparticipants werereluctanttowardMidjourney.Thosecanrelatetothe lackofexperienceandthereforeconfidenceintheirwork.As Tjokrokoesoemo (2022)said,aconfidentplannerisagood planner,buttheconfidencecomesfromexperiencewhichthe participantsarestillgetting.Anotherreasoncanalsobethe newanduncertainnatureofMidjourney.Thesoftwareisstill abstract,andseeingthepotentialofusingthesoftwarefrom onlyusingitfor30minutesisunderstandablynotenough tomakeafinalopinion.Theyoungprofessionalswerealso quicktothinkofwaystoimprovethetoolratherthanbluntly disregardit(Workshop, 2022).

c.Interest,opportunity,andpower Onethingthathasbecomeobviousthroughoutthisresearch isthatalthough ReinertandSinning (1997)displaytheparadoxwithtwolines,interestandopportunityareconnected andrelyheavilyonpower.Howevermanyauthorsdescribea needforchange(Harrisetal., 2010; Marmolejo-Ramosetal., 2022),thebenefitsofparticipation(InnesandBooher, 2004; Healey, 1996; Cuellar, 2009; Fung, 2006)andsuggestways ofimprovingandchangingthelesssuccessfulpractice(Innes andBooher, 2004),foranychangetobemade,therehasto beachangeinthemindsetfromthoseinpower(Arnstein, 1969).

InnesandBooher (2004)discusstheinterestingduality thatisdominantinparticipation,namelythethemandus. Participationishappeningbetweenthecitizensononeside, andthegovernmentontheother,andthereisnothingbetweenthem.Thisdualityillustrateswellwhyissuesareoccurringinparticipationasthisformencouragesdisagreement becauseitis’usagainstthem’ratherthananin-betweensituation.Asithasbeenargued,Midjourneyhasthepotential tobothenhanceearlyinterestandcanbeatooltoenhance opportunities,however,neitherofthesevaluescanbeusedif thepeopleinpowerdonotallowforearlyinvolvementand isinterestedingivingthepublicanoptiontoparticipate,neitherisitpossibleifthedualityisstillpresent.Therefore, itisanimportantfinding,thattheroleoftheprofessional hastochange.Luckily,professionalslike Tjokrokoesoemo (2022)isagoodexampleofaplannerthatiseagerandcurioustochangethecurrentpracticeandseesaneedtoinvolve thepublicmoreandearlier.Itispeoplelikehim,thathold thekeytobreakingtheparadox,andalongwithforexample Midjourney,thetransitiontowardsmorecollaborativeparticipationcanbemadeeasier.Itisnotthe’usandthem’butin the’in-between’discussions,thatcollaborationanddialogue canhappen,whereactorsareco-creatingandwherepower haslessofaninfluence(InnesandBooher, 2004).

VI.C ONCLUSION

Throughoutthearticle,variousopinionsandthemeshave beenaddressedintermsofMidjourneyanditsapplicability inpublicparticipation.ThegoalsofthearticleweretoinvestigatehowMidjourneycanenhancethedemocraticvalueof participationandrestructuretheparticipatoryparadox.Ina summary,thesoftwarehasthepotentialtoimpacttheparticipationparadox,andholdvaluestoenhancethedemocratic valueofparticipationbygivingthepublicatooltotakepart inearlyparticipationandbygivingthemamoreequalvoice inapracticedominatedbyprofessionals.

Thepossibilitytoengageisincreasedthroughtheuseof Midjourneyinafewways.Midjourneyisawaytoinvolve morepeopleintheprocess,asthereisnolimittowhocan useitandwhoseimagesarebetter.Thesoftwarecanhelp thegeneralpublicillustratetheirideas,makingtheexchange betweenprofessionalsandthepublicmoreequal.Withcollaborativeparticipationaimingforanequalandmulti-way dialogue,Midjourneyactsasaneutralpartnerandatranslatorbetweentwopartiesandenhancestheunderstanding.By givingthepublictheopportunityandabilitytoengagemore inparticipation,theinterestinengagingwillbeimpactedand increased.Becausethepublicwasnotdirectlyinvolvedin

thisresearchitisdifficulttoconcludethatthepublicinterestwillbeenhanced,howevervariousreasonspointtoit. Firstly,theeaseofusingMidjourneyhasthepotentialthat manymore,otherwisepassiveparticipants,haveachanceto voicetheiropinionsandhaveagenuineinfluenceonprocesses.Secondly,asMidjourneyandsoftware’salike,becomemorecommonandiftheyareintroducedinplanners’ participationpractice,ithasthepotentialtomakethepublic moreinterested.This,however,isallreliantontheuse,priority,andwillingnessoftheprofessionalstousethetooland allowthepublicanimpactinearly,aswellasotherstages ofprojects.Whenthepublicseesthattheyhaveanimpact, theirinterestwillimmediatelyraise,butitisuptotheprofessionalstocreatespaceswherethisnewtypeofcollaborative participationcantakeplace.

Aswithalmostanychangetopractice,theintroduction ofanewwayrequirespriority,willingness,andeagerness. Ifthegoalistoincreasethepossibilitiesforthepublicand enhancethedemocraticvalueofparticipation,thepowerful professionalshavetobewillingtoredistributetheirpower. Thisdoesnotmean,however,thattheprofessionalsaremade obsoleteastheirknowledgeiskeyinguidingconversations, translatingandgeneratingideas,andmediatingbetweenvariousstakeholders.But,asithasbeendetermined,opportunitiesandinterestsrelyheavilyonpower,andanychanges inpracticemustbewantedfromthatsidebeforeanything changes.Midjourneyholdsthepotentialtohelpboththe professionalandpublicsidesinparticipationandcanbea valuableresourceformakingthefutureofparticipationmore democratic.

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A.A PPENDICES

B.I NTERVIEWWITH K JAI T JOKROKOESOEMO

LMK:WheredidyoufirsthearaboutMidjourney,howand wheredidyouseeit,andwasityou(thatintroducedMidjourneytoDeZwarteHond)?

KT:Yehwell,IthinkitwasonLinkedin,Isawafewpeople tryingitout.AndfirstIwasjustlookingattheseimagesbecausewe,Iamalsoquiteimageoriented,soIseeanimage anditlooksinteresting,itlookedlikearender,morelikea fantasy-likerenderandthenIstartedreadingandIkeptseeingthenamemidjourneyoverandoveragain.AndIdidn’t understandwhattexttoimagewasaboutehm,andbecause itwasalsoquiteanewconcept.Ehm..AndthenIthought maybeweshouldusethisandithinkwhenEllencametome withtheopencallfortheStimuleringsfondsandsheasked mewhatwouldwe,doyouhaveandideaandIwassortof tryingtocombinewhatwearedealingwithinworkandisee thelackofparticipationthelackoftrustingovernmentin makingcitiesehm,andiwantedtobemoredemocraticand thenimadethelinkwithMidjourneythinkingmaybeweare doingitthewrongwaymaybeweshouldnotusewordsand presentstuffallthetimemaybeweshouldletpeoplepresent stuff...forachange.

KT:Ehminawaythatisfun.Sothat’showIsortof...but alsoveryquicklyIgotatextfromEllen.Ithinkitwasduring aneveningandIlookedatitandwaslikeI’llthinkaboutit tomorrowmorningandthentomorrowmorningIwaslike maybethis,maybeIsawsomethingonLinkedin.Probably that’showthemindworks.

LMK:Soyouweretheonethatkindofintroducedittothe companyinaway?

KT:Yeh,cossoIstartedtestingandiknewthat,Imeanthat Iknowsomepeopleintheofficeare(inagoodwayIam sayingthisinagoodday)theyarenerds,Iamalsoabitofa nerd,soiknewwhototalktosoiknewIhadtoaskrickand richarddoyouknowMidjourneyandofcoursetheyknew Midjourney.Rickknewanawfullotaboutitaswell.

KT:AndIjustgoogleditandstartedtestingitandIgotso enthusiasticbyitandabitaddictedevenandIwantedto shareit,Iwantedtoshareitwithpeopleandtheteam,and justtotestouttheirenthusiasmaboutitandeverybodygot veryenthusiastic,maybebecauseIwassuperenthusiastic. AndthenEllencameby,soIsaid:Ellen,havealookand shesaidyehlet’sdothis,let’sgetasubscription.Imust admititkindofthrewmeoffbalancethetoolbecausethe possibilitiesseemedendlessbutIhaven’tuseditinawhile becauseyousortofgobackintoabusinessasusualjustto survivedeadlineandsoIthinkthat....ButIreallyhopethat wecancontinuewiththeprojectbecausethenyouactually havetimetotrysomethinglikethisanditwouldbegood.

LMK:Soyoufirstimpressionwas:amazedabouthow..like whatthetoolcouldactuallydo?

KT:Yehitismagicalmost...Yeh..howdoesthiswork?How canacomputermakethisitsehm.Thinking,10yearsback fromnowwecandowaymoreanditsaveryimpressivebit ofyehAI...

LMK:Doyouthink...Doyourememberwhatyouthought whenyoufirsttriedit.,likewhatcanwe,whatwereyour firstthoughtsonwhatwecanuseitfor,whatitmightbe usedforforthecompanyandingeneral?Ordidyoujust thinkimmediatelyabouttheapplicationforthefund?

LMK:Yeh

KT:ThenIgetabitfrustratedandthenyouseethelimitationsofthesoftware...ormaybethelimitationsinyourself.. soIthoughtyoucanuseitintwoways,1.tojust...asasoft ofrandomideageneratortogetinspiredcosthatsalsohowit workslike,youmakemistakesindesignprocessesandthese mistakescaninspireyoutodosomethingdifferent.Andin awayitevendid...forthemodelbehindyouofthethis sortofumbrella.BecauseIwas..duringlunchandIwas sittingatthetableandiwastestingitout,andthenBartVan KampencameandIsaid:heydoyouknowthisBart,doyou knowthissoftware,andwewereeatinglunchandIsaidokay let’sdotheLumbijerforHilversum...sowetriedtodescribeit.Itstreeshapedthingwithlightcomingthroughthe topehmandpeoplewaitingunderneathitandthenwegot thisveryfantasylikeimageandthenBartwaslikeohhhyou canmakebiggerholesinthesealingandthenhewenttothe Yamalinthedesignandhesaidweshouldtrymakebigger holesanditseemslikesomethingthatcouldwork.AndI thinkthosearethemistakes,theaccidentsthatyoucanuse itfor...that’sonethingbutIalsobelievethatimagesare verypowerfulandwesometimesforgetthatweasdesigners havequitealotofpowerbecausewhenwearetalkinginbig groups..(andyouhavejoinedafewmeetingsnow)thereare alwayslike20-ishpeople...lookingatimagesthatwemade anddiscussingtheseimagesandit’svery...youhavequite somepoweroverwhatyouareshoweringorwhatyouarenot showing.AndIwouldlike..actuallyliketobesurprisedby otherpeople.Bytheirimages.SoIwantedtoturnitaround

andIthinkthiscouldbeameans..becauseyoudon’thaveto, youarenot..youdon’thavetobetrainedtomakesomething. YoujustneedtoputinsomewordsandIthinkthatcouldbe veryinteresting.Soithinkineh...butyoucannotuseitto makeplans...Idontbelievethat,notyet.

LMK:NoIthink...Itseemslikeifyoukeepittoarchitecture,likesmallerscalethingsseemedliketheybecamemore preciseor..

KT:...Buteventhenit’sehmit’severytimedifferent.So thereisnocontrolandthat’sthefunthingofit.

8:01LMK:Yesyes...Itcanbe..isthatalso..ImeanthinkingaboutthebarriersofusingMidjourneyforboththings thatyoumentionisthatsomething.Like,itnever.Wetalked aboutit’snevertranslatingtheideayouhaveinyourheadbut thenwhenthetooldoesn’tactuallygiveyoutheimagethat youimagined...Doyouthinkthat’sabarrierorisitjusta potential?

KT:Wellyeh,Ithinkwhen..it’sapotentialbecauseitseems likeathirdpartyandlikeanobjective...somebodythatis notpartofanythingyouknow,theyarenot,theydon’thave anystakesor...soitfeelssortofneutralinawaysoyeh“itis justacomputermakinganimage.Youcanalwayshavethis discussionoryoucanusethatinadiscussion.Ontheother handIamverymuchawareofthefactthateventhoughwe thinkitsacomputeritsstillprogrammed,it’sstillscripted stilldesignedbypeopleandsoinawayitisbiasedandso ithasthoselimitations,butIthinkifyou,ifyouarevery muchawareofityoualsotalktopeopleaboutitandmanage expectationsthenehmitcanbeaverynicetool.Something totallynewentirely,becauseofthespeedofit.

LMK:Yes,itsvery,it’sveryfast.

LMK:Yeh,andwedidtheprojectonparticipationwithMidjourneyandusingMidjourneytoqualifyparticipationprocessesandyessowetalkedabitaboutthatalready,butis thatsomethingthatyouthinkwe(DeZwarteHond)could bedoing?CanweuseMidjourney,aswetalkedabout,the almost‘tinder-like’softwarethatyoualreadyuse(forparticipation).DoyouthinkthatMidjourneycouldbesomething thatthecompanycouldbeusinginthefuture?Maybenotas itisnow,but...

KT:Ithinkwecanuseit,butwe(theplanners)shouldbe theretohelppeopleuseit.BecauseitislikeIsaid,about managingexpectations,youhaveto...andthatissomething-weareexpertsinreadingimagesandinterpretingand maybetranslationeven.Ifyou..withoutinterpretation,withouttranslationthenpeoplecangetlostandthenthat’swhen weshouldbethere,weshouldbethere.Butit’s..youshould useitasatool,anextratool,likeweareusingmodels,like weareusingposters,butitshouldnotbe,it’snotsomething youcanjustgive,imeangoodluck.Itdoesn’tworklike that...notyet.

LMK:NoNo.Butmaybethinkingaboutthenew,thenext role.IthinkitmightevolvetheroleoftheArchitectandthe PlannerandtheDesigner,doyouthink,doyouthinkthatit (midjourney)willchangeourroleaswell.

KT:Yehdefinitely!Itsalreadychanging.

LMK:Intowhat?

KT:Well,nowwehavethisOutThere(companymagazine) ofIthinkitwas2015ofsomething,when,thattalkedabout asortofnewtypeofurbandesignerandthatwearequite uniqueinitasanofficeIthinkitismorecommon,and

leastIhopeitismorecommonbusiness,thatasanurban designeryouarenotapresenterbutyouareamoderatorin talksand...Butthereshouldbeabalance,imeansometimes wehavetobethepresentersometimeswehavetoinspire peopletodothingsdifferently.Butespeciallythemoderatingpartis,solisteningandaskingtherightquestionsandin gettingpeopleengagedandinunderstandingtheirexpertise aboutareas,thatissomethingweshoulddowaymoreandI believethatMidjourneycouldhelp.Andespeciallyindealingwithnon-expertsofbridgingthatgapthatwehaveatthe moment.BecauseIamalsoverymuchawarethatwhenwe maketheSwipocratietinderlike-thingforHaarlemmermeer. EhmImadetheproposaltogetherwithPreetikaandIdid allthetextwritingandthentherewasatextwriter..who.. wehaveameetingoftwohoursgoingthroughallthetext, andIwasusingwaytoomuchprofessionallanguage,way toomuch.Iwasn’tevenaware..ItriedtowriteitincommonknowledgebutIusedwaytoomuchyehurbandesign talkanditwasareallyfunnydiscussionoftwohoursandit wasnotevenadiscussionon“ok,thatschanged,okthiskeep this,thisshouldbechanged”noitwasjustehm(explaining thetext).AndIthinkthat’sabigproblem.Becauseifyou aretalkingtopeoplethatarejustlivinginaneighborhood. Theydon’tthinkabout,maybetheydon’teventhinkabout thenext20years,30or40years,theyjustthinkaboutnext week,whatI’mgonnado.So,howdoyouhavethetalkwith them..thatactuallyhasmeaningforthem?Whywouldthey engage,justlikeyourgrafyoushowed.

LMK:Yes

KT:Theinterestofparticipationisinmyopiniononlyatthe endbutthenit’stoolate.Howdoyougettheminthefront, inehm...inthebeginning.

LMK:Andwhatdoyouthinkaboutthem,doyouthinkthe professionalsthen,arethey,doyouthinktheyarewillingto giveupthispower?

KT:Ihopeso

LMK:Yes

KT:Ihopeso,butehmIthinktheonlyonesthatwilldoit, thosearetheonesthataregooddesigners.Becauseifyou, ifyouareagooddesignerthenyouareverymuchcomfortableyouareverymuchconfidentinwhatyouaredoing,you knowwhatyouaredoing.Soyoucanalsohelppeopleand guidepeople,andseeitmoreasa...ascooking.Actually onmyfirstinternshipsI..itdidn’tgowell,atall,butIhadan Architectandshesaid:it(planning)islikecooking.Soyou havedifferentingredientsandyouknow,ifyouputtoomuch ofthisinit,itgetstoosaltyoryouknowitdoesn’ttasteright, andthisisagoodcombination.So,inawaythat’salsodesigning...soyouareusingtools.Andifyour,ifyouarelost youthink,youthinkokthistimeididsomethinggreat,butI don’tknowwhatididthenyouarenotaveryconfidentdesignerandthenyouarenotcomfortableinopeningupyour designprocessandlettingotherpeopleinsothat’s,soithink onlythegooddesignerswillmanage.That’smy..(opinion) LMK:Yeh,andthenanimportantingredientisalsothepublicinaway.

KT:Definitely..Andmaybeitisalsoyourpoliticalchoice butthat’ssomethingpeoplenevertalkaboutandsoehmm, that’salsoabusinessthing

LMK:Yesthatisalsotrue

C.W ORKSHOP

LMK:Ok,sowhatdoyouthink(ofthesoftware)?

Zedi:Ithoughtitwasfun.Ireallydidnotthinkthiswaspossible.Ithinkitneedsifyoukindofdoitmoreoftenifyou practicetobityoumightgetbetterresultsandyoumightunderstandbetterhowthesoftwareworks,becausenowIthink weallwerejusttryingthingsandthenwesawitkindofcome tolifeandthinkyehthatwasn’ttheidea,butitwouldwork niceforareferencingforprojectsorsomething.

Noud:Yehorifyouarelikeinasketchphaseofyourproject andyoujustwanttopresentsomethinganddescribedtheatmospherethatitneedstohaveyoucanjustlikedowhatever withthisthing-itcanlooklikethat’sandjustwithoutmakingakindofrenderingyourself.Youcanjustgetasketch versionbythis.Ithinkthatwouldbefastandefficient.

Martha:Ithinkthatithaskindofhasthisbothsides,soon onehandandweasdesignerswecangooutofourboxesbecauseoncewethinkaboutforinstanceBjarkeIngelsorwhoever’sarchitecturethenwehavesomeimagesinourminds wegototheirwebsiteandit’salreadybeenorisgoingtobe builtsothenwebaseourprojectsonsomethingthatalready existsandthiscreatesenormousamountsofimagesthatare notyettheresoitkindofcanpushustowardsyeahdifferentandmorediversemoreinnovativeprojects.Ontheother handIthinkthatifitgoestolikewronghandssoforinstance ifyougiveittothepeopleandthentheylikeshufflewith itplaywithitandthenIthinkitmightbedangerousinthis waythatpeoplewouldlikeaskforsomethingthattheydon’t understand,sotheydon’thavethedesignbackgroundand suddenlytheywantthissuperdiversearchitectureintheir spotsbecausetheyseethepictureandthenthroughthepicturesyeahit’skindoflikewithPinterestlikewhenpeople areshufflingandthenseeingtheirdreamapartmentandthen thedesignerstheykindoftheyarenotlongerneededina sensesopeoplewhothinkthatstayalreadyyeahlikeknow howtodesignandstuffsoImeanonceitislikeinhandsof someonewhoknowshowtouseitandyeahusesthereferencesinaproperwayandyeahit’sanamazingtoolI’mjust wonderinghowitworkswhenyouactuallygivetheaccess toeveryoneandtheneveryoneislikedesignerkindof.

Fillip:Thisiswild

LMK:Doyouthinksomething?

Yanal:ErhmIthinkitsverycool,it’sverypromising.Designersandthehumansareingenerallimitedsoourimaginationandourinspirationalorinspirationsisactuallyquite limitedwhenyoucomparedtoasoftwarealgorithmsoit’s verypromising.Itaddsdimensionstodesignprocess.

LMK:Andwhatdoyouthink?

Fillip:Iamhavingfunwithit(laughing).Itswild,itsfunny, ifyousaylikewhatisanarchetypicalcarorwhatisan archetypicalculturecenterorwhatisanarchetypicaldutch building.Imeanwehavealldrawnarchetypicalcar.Ifyou drawanarchetypicalhouselikeit’stheshape(showswith hands)andweallknowitbutmaybeaculturecenterisnot asclearbutyoucanseewhatanAIputsoutandsomaybe that’sthesortfromtheaverageculturalcentre.Imeanthis isanicebaselinealsoitisfuntovary,airyonitandseelike itthinksofmorethingsandyoudon’tthinksoitbringsin moreinfluencesthanyoumighthaveyourself.Butalsojust tolookat,whatisthearchetypeofit.

It(thetool)canbeuseful.Idon’tseemyselfwithintegrating itinmyworkflowjustyet,butmaybeyoushouldreallystuck andyouaddsomethingstobreakoutofthemold,yehit’sfun touse.Imeanit’sjusttrainedonthedataset,youcouldalso giveitanotherdataset.

LMK:Youcanactuallyuploadimagestoitandsoitknows thatitshouldbeinspiredbythatimagethatyoualreadyput inbutit’sjustthat’sjusttakingitabitfurtherthanweneed to.

Fillip:I’dbecuriousifyouuploadeveryrenderofDeZwarte HondbuildingsandyousaymakeagenericDeZwarteHond buildingwhatitcomesupwith.

LMK:Theyhave

Phillip:Yeh,ohthat’sfunny.

LMK:Andtheyfindsomethingthatissimilarto,Ithink,one ofthestationareas.

Fillip:Ohthat’sfunny.

LMK:IthinkwhatyouweresayingbeforeMarthawasquite interestingcozI’mactually,theprojectI’mdoing,ortheresearchI’mdoingisabouthowcanwe...ErmIamresearchingpublicparticipationespecially,andthinkingabouthow andifyoucanusethistoolwiththepublicandifwecan, inawaygivethepublicanideaorgivethemawayofalso designingbecausemaybethere’sabitofatendencythatdesignersandarchitectsandplannerswehavealotofpower becausewecanmakeimages.Thepubliccan’tmakeimages, sothat’slikekindofwhatI’mresearching.Ifhowcouldthis toolmaybebehelpfulforthepublicandtogivethemaway intothedesignanalysisortheprocess?Butdoyouthinkwe can...doyouthepubliccanusethistoolanddoyouthink itwouldbebeneficialbothforourworkandtheoutcomeof projectsingeneral?

Zedi:No,theimagestheycreatedcanstandontheirownas you’veseenwejustdidwithnoexperience.It’snotreally whatwewantedtosaybecauseiftheycankindofexplain withanimagethatwouldbeniceandasactuallyright,very interestingwayofparticipation,becauseeveryonekindof hastheirimageintheirheadandyoucan’treallyalwaysunderstandwhatpeoplemeanbythatespeciallyifyou’renot trainedtoexplainyourdesignitsreallydifficult,andwealwayswantpeopletoparticipateit’sjustsodifficulttoget peopletoparticipate,becausewedon’talwaysunderstand whatthepeoplearesayingortheytalkaboutcompletelydifferentthings,sothiskindofputsthefocusonsomething. Youkindofworkonsomething,withoutactuallyhavingto beagreatdesigneryoucanworkonanimage,sothat’snice. LMK:Doyouthinkifyourifyourprocessifyouweretodesignabuildingorapublicspaceandyouweregivenmaybe letssay20imagesthatthepublichadcreated,asyourreferencetowhatyoushoulddrawnow,doyouthinkthatwould bethatwouldbeusefulinaprocessordoyouthinkitwould morelimitedyou?

Noud:Ithinkhavinginputofthepublicisalwaysnice,butI knowthatsometimesthearchitectural,thedesignersmakeor likemakeoverviewofasetofexistingreferencesandthen thepublicgivestheiropinionaboutthemandIthink-so itcanbebothwaysthatthepublicmakesimagesyourself andgivesthemtoyouordesignermakesveryquickimages withAI,thengivethemtothepublicandthenitcomesback. Becausesearchingreferencesthatreallyaresuitableforthe locationsisquitehardandmaybethatmakesiteasierfor

designerstofindreferencesforthespecificspotsandthen thepubliccandecide.Kindof.

Marta:IthinkofagreebecauseIthinkit’sareallynicetool thoughlikewearesomehoweducatedtowards,tofor-even now-whenweweretypingstuffweknewkindofalready, wehavesomeexperiencewithdesigningpublicspacesso wealreadyknewwhattotype.Ofcoursethenwhenyougive ittothepublicit’sgoingtobemorediversedifferentthan youwouldthinkofbutstillthepowerisinthedesigner’s handsinasense,soitcanworkbothways,thatmaybethey cangiveusthepicturesandthenwegivethembackwhat wethinkandthenit’slikeanexchange.Notanymoreverbal exchangebutmaybethisasyouasyouareresearchingmore visualexchange,soweinsteadoftalkingforthreehourswe justshowdifferentpicturesandmaybethatcanspeedupthe process,becausethenpeopleyeahunderstandmorewhatis happening.

SoyeahI’mreallylikekindofexcitedit’saboutthis,how canitimprovetheprocess,butalsoabitafraidofitit’slike both.

Zedi:Yeah

Noud:Yeahalsoweknowwhattypeofwordsweneedfor likeacertainimagemorelike,nobutwordsthatlikefitinthe architecturallibraryofwords,maybethepublicalsodoesn’t havethemsothatyougetjustlike:boxbuildingforexample, insteadoflikesomethingmorespecificthatwealreadyknow wheretogotogoto

Martha:Andalsotheotherthingis,thatthisyoualready mentioned,likethelibraryitselfiskindofbiased,likeyou alreadyinputsomeimagessoitworkswithsomeimagesso itneverwillbetotallyobjectivesoyouhavetosomehowalso teachtheAIand.Irememberonceweweretalkingthatfor instance;okayitdoesn’tbelongtoarchitecturebutit’sjust anexample,soifyoutypeIdon’tknowmaybenowitwill besomethingdifferent,butgenerallyinGoogle,ifyoutype like:apersonwhoislikewealthyandaCEO,aCEOofa companymostprobablytherewillbeawhitemaninasuitor somethinglikethat.SoinsomewaytheAIismadebyourlibrariessohowarewevisuallydescribetheworldsoit’skind ofalsosomethingthatforsureshouldbeimprovedtolike makeitmorediversesotoincludemoretypesofbuildings andconstructionandyesscalesandect.

Zedi:Yeahthat’strue,butontheotherhand,yeahIthinkAI alwayskindofhasanalgorithmbiasbecausethat’sjusthow machinelearningworks.

Buttogetbackonthatpointoflikeshowingsomethingas adesignerinsteadofhavingtoparticipationprocessbelike neighbourpeoplefromtheneighbourhoodshowingyouimages,Ithinkitcanactuallybeasteptowardsgettingmore participation,becauseifwejustusethisandwedon’tlet themuseit,ourroleisgoingtostaythesamewearegoing tobetoonealwaysproducingandtheyaregoingtobethe onealwayscommenting.Thiswaytheycanalsoproduce without.Yeh,youneedsomeskill,butnotalotofskill.So youcanactuallyuseitandtheycanuseitandthat’s,that’s Ithinkitwillkindofempowerpeopleorthink:heynow I’mreallygoingtodosomethingbecauseI’mnotjustsaying somethinganditwillgo,mywordswilljustfloatupintoair andnotonewilldoanythingwithit.Theymaybehavelike acollagefromallpeopleintheneighborhoodswiththings, anditmightlookappealingandinspiringandthereforeits

useful.Wedon’tmakeimagesjustto...wealwaysmake imageslookreallypretty,wealwaysdoalayerofPhotoshop overitbecauseweneedtoconvince,andwithimagesyou canconvincebettersometimesthanwithwords.So,Ithink weshouldgivethistopeople.

Noud:Butyousaidthatyoucaninputpicturesaswelltoget, toletthetoolgetinspirationfrom,soyoucanevendolike adoublestep,thatthepublicmakespictureswiththisand thenyouputthembackagainintothetoolandthenmakelike kindofanAIfusionthatisapparentlyoutof100possibilities maybelikeacombinedversionsoitcanalsobelikeatoolto havelikenarrowitdowntodifferentvariantsfromthesame inspiration.ThatshouldbeyeahIgetthepointthatyoucan motivatethepublicnowandyoutellthemthattheycanlike reallymakesomethingthemselvestogiveusinput.

LMK:Yeah,becausealotofpeopledon’thavetheabilityto visualisethings,

Noud:No

Zedi:Yeah

LMK:...Thereisonlyveryfewpeoplethatcandothatand likeyousaidpicturescanbeveryconvincingsowhenthe picturesdon’texistfromthebeginningmaybethat’swhen youcanactuallyparticipateasapublicmember,nowthat youcanactuallymakeimagesyourself.

Yanal:Ithinkifitcouldbelessabstract,Ithinkthatcould alsohelpIrealisedit’sjuststartingbutI’mnotsurethatthe peoplewhoarenotinvolvedinthedesignprocessummI thinktheywanttoseerelevantandandyeah,theywantto seethingsthatcommunicatestothemandnotinspirational things.Rightnowit’s,inmyopinion,quiteabstractwhichis notbadatall,butmaybeforifit’s,ifit’smeantforthepeoplewhodon’thaveanydesignbackgroundorartisticbackgroundthenit’sabitlessabstract,abstractionism,itcould alsocouldbeveryhelpful.

Fillip:Yeah,Iagreewiththat,Idon’tthinkthatanyonethat isn’treallyfamiliarwitharchitectureordesigncangenerate imagesthatareusefulandinadiscussionlikethis,orgeta resultthattheymightdosomethingwith.Imeanit’s,asyou said,it’sveryabstractoryoujustgetjustprettypicturesof peoplebikinginatypicalstreet,whichisn’tmuchoftalk, it’shardtotalkabout.YeahIthinkitcanbeausefultoolfor architectsetc.tolikebreakcreativelimitationsbutIdon’treallyseeanyapplianceinitforlikeuneducatedaudiences,it’s toodifficultIsupposedtogetsomething,topinpointsomethinguseful.

Noud:Butthenitcouldbehelpfulifthereisapossibilitytoo kindofloadthelocationintotheprogram.Thatitalready, alreadyhasthelocationthatitshouldbesituatedin,sothat there’slikea,someofthebuildingsorwhatever.Orlike thatitisanAItooloveranexistingimagesothatyouhave, thateveryonecreatesthesameimageanglebutthenwithlike completelyAIbasedcontentinitthatyoutypeinyourself. Zedi:Yeahyouneedtopreparealittlebit.

Noud:Yeahmaybe

Martha:Yeah

Noud:...soit’snotoutofnowherelikethatoneisinthetree becauseitlike,youtypeintreesandIdon’tknow,thereisa skyscraperwithwhateverandthenIdon’tknow.

Zedi:Ialsodon’tthinkweshouldunderestimatepeople... Noud:NO!

Zedi:...becausesometimesItellmyfriendsaboutmy architecturalprojectsandIover-explainandthentheysay somethingandIthink:yesyouactuallyknowwhatI’mtalkingabout,becauseeveryonekindoflivesinthebuildenvironmentso,soIthinktheyknowmorethanwecan,thanwe expect.andverballymostpeoplearequiteequippedjustnot indrawing,orsoftwareoranything.

LMK:OK,noIthinkIhavewhatIneedtohave,Ihaveyour opinionsandthenmaybesomeideasforusingitwiththe publicormaybenotusingitwiththepublicsothat’sgood.

Noud:Twoperspectives:

LMK:Yehmaybemoreperspectives

Fillip:DoYOUthinkthatthereisanyuseinitforthepublic?

LMK:YeahIthinkso,Ithinkitsinterestingtogivesome powertothepublic,likewho’stosaythatafewpeopleisto,a likebitlikeyousaid,everyonelivesinthebuildenvironment sowhyshouldwenothaveawhyshouldthepublicnothave anopiniononwhatthey’regoingtolivein,oruseorsee everyday,All:Yehyeh

LMK:...Somaybethetool,asitisnow,isabitdifficultto use

Fillip:YehIcouldn’tseemymomusingitforinstance

LMK:No,butwecanall,wecanallexplainwherewelive wedon’thavetosay:ohIliveinthebuildingwithallthese fancyarchitectureterms,wecanalsosaywellIliveinavery diverseneighbourhood,withlotsofbikesandlotsoftrees andwehaveparks,soeveryonecanexplainwheretheylive andwhattheylikemaybenotnecessarilyexplainexactlythe typeofbuildingtheylikesobutthatjusthowwethink,right becauseweareusedtothinkinginthosetermsbutIthink maybeopeningituptothepublicalsoisawaytobroaden thedesignersperspectivesalittlebit

Fillip:Maybeitismoreacceptableinanurbanwaythanlet’s sayinarchitectureway.

Noud:Whydoyouthinkthat?

Fillip:Becausepeopleknowwhatstreetsareandwhatthe cityorlikethatapiazzaisorplaygroundortreesandso

Noud:Thepeoplealsoknowwhatbricksareandconcrete..

Fillip:YehIknow,butIdon’tknowabout:mattersor friendlybuildingsormultistory...well

Zedi:Ithinkmorepeopleknowwhatamulti-storyisthana piazza.

Fillip:YehIknow,it’sabadexample.Butpeoplearemore familiarwithliketheurbancityscapethanIreckonarchitecturalterms.Yehmymorhterwouldknowhowtodescribe herhouseeventhoughitisverytypical.

Martha:Yeahit’sreallyhardbecauseit’salsosupersubjectiveinasensebecausewhenwedesignOKthereisaclient thatwantssomethingbutthenwesubjectivelythinkthatwe likesomethingandthenpeoplealsosubjectivelycanthink andmaybeofcourse,Imean,inmyopinionitishardbecauseeventhoughwegivethepower,wealsohavesome power,andthentheyshowusmultiplepicturesthatweget thembutthenattheendanywayswehavetodecidethat sometimesthedecision,isnotthere’snorightorwrong,it canbebrick,itcanbewood,itcanbe4metreshighitcanbe 5metreshighwithanatrium,soinasensethereareplentyof solutionsandtherewillneverbeonesolutionsoit’snotlike withfindingtheCovidvaccineorsomething,rightsoIthink that’swhyit’ssomehowhardbecausepeoplethenwillargue, IlikethismoreokayIlikethismore,itssuperinterestingthat

theycanhavethepowertovisualisetheirtheirthoughtsItotallyagreeandthat’ssuperniceto,Imeantointroducethem, toseewhathappens,becausewecanspeculatebutmaybe it’sgonnabetotallydifferentthanwethink.Butyeahatthe endsomeofthedecisionsarebasedonthebudget,ofcourse, someofthemarebasedontheclimateyeah,difficulties.And yeahattheendthat’ssomethingthatwestruggleaswelllike wecandoitthiswaybutalsothiswayandtherearemultiplesolutionsforit.Andyeahlikepeoplesometimesthat happensmostlywithprivateclientsthattheylikewhatevera pinkcolorandthenwhatcanyoudoyouhavetodesignin thiswaybecausetheyliketheyaretheclients,butthenwhen itislikethecommunitybuildingthenyeahitissuperhard becauseeveryonehastheirownvisiontowardssomething.

LMK:Soourroleormaybechangealittlebit,westillhaveto makedecisionsbutmaybewealsojustneedtoguidethepublicorguidethecontractorsorwhoeverispartoftheproject All:Mmm(nodding)

LMK:Thankyou,thatwasgood.Greatwork!

All:Wehopeyougotwhatyouneed.

Fillip:Yehthistoolisamazing!