BETTERSG BLUEPRINT
FIRST THE NEIGHBOURHOOD, THEN THE CITY.
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At the level of the neighbourhood, there is the greatest opportunity for democracy but the least amount of power; as we scale up the amount of decision-making power increases, but the potential of people to affect outcomes diminishes.
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Susan Fainstein, The Just City
Starting at the level of the neighbourhood, rather than the city, allows us to experiment with smaller but more concrete forms of improving the urban environment through the involvement of regular citizens. It is often less probable for regular citizens to impact a city-wide redevelopment plan, than to successfully campaign for a covered linkway in their estate. But small-scale actions to enhance the pockets of space around us are no less trivial and can also produce large outcomes when combined with many other humble efforts. It is in this spirit that we have chosen to focus the Blueprint on bettering neighbourhood spaces and communities.
OUR VISION FOR A BETTERSG IS ROOTED IN A PARTICIPATORY DESIGN APPROACH.
ESSENTIALLY, WE DESIGN
PUBLIC SPACE
PRODUCT
BUILDING
ART
TECHNOLOGY
WITH PEOPLE
AND NOT FOR PEOPLE.
COMPONENTS OF GOOD PARTICIPATORY DESIGN Good participatory design depends on three key areas: adhering to core principles, designing a suitable process, and applying the right tools and methods.
PRINCIPLES
METHODS & TOOLS
PROCESS
ROLE OF FACILITATOR Good facilitation is key to achieving an effective participatory design process.
What is participatory design? Participatory design (PD) is an approach where all stakeholders are involved in the design process. Traditional design projects typically include the paying client and professionals within similar and related industries; in participatory design, members of the wider community — from the users who are directly affected by the design, to the local business owners who are peripheral to it — are also recognised as legitimate stakeholders with the ability to impact the project. The extent of their involvement can range from being passively informed of a project’s development, to actively sharing roles and responsibilities in decision making. While there may be times when informing is a necessary part of the process, we believe that real impact is often made when we intentionally build up a person’s capacity to contribute at higher levels.
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WAYS PARTICIPATORY DESIGN CAN BENEFIT YOU AND YOUR COMMUNITY
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PARTICIPATION CAN REDUCE THE RISK OF FAILURE AND CONSEQUENTLY, COST. A PD approach entails constant reality checks — does this idea really work? Would people use it? When our understanding of people’s needs and interests is based on real findings rather than assumptions, we have a higher chance of ensuring a successful design outcome for them.
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PARTICIPATION CAN BUILD OWNERSHIP OF THE OUTCOME.
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PARTICIPATION CAN BOOST CONFIDENCE AND SELF-RELIANCE.
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PARTICIPATION CAN ENABLE REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS TO FORM AND LOWER RESISTANCE TO CHANGE.
A PD approach creates space for a community to own the solution. Instead of prescribing solutions to people, we facilitate them with people. When people are able to give creative, critical input and translate them into action, we can better cultivate responsibility and ownership towards the eventual outcomes.
A PD approach focuses on a community’s strengths rather than its weaknesses, by harnessing each person’s skills, knowledge and resources. When people are aware of their ability to offer something positive to the design process, we can build more confident, resilient communities.
A PD approach involves open dialogue between various stakeholders of the community. When people are able to understand that there are different and competing positions on an issue, they often develop a more nuanced picture and are therefore more open to exploring new solutions.
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PARTICIPATION CAN FOSTER STRONGER BONDS, AND IN TURN, GREATER COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. A PD approach creates opportunities for people to meet and work together on a shared vision. This builds new social capital and strengthens existing networks. When people know one another better, they tend to be more tolerant, trustful, and capable of making change collectively.
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PRINCIPLES FOR DESIGNING WITH PEOPLE
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Build Relationships
Leverage Existing Networks
at the smallest possible unit. Instead of organising a party for the whole block, start with the people on your floor. It is often easier to get to know others in a smaller group.
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Find a local partner that is already embedded within and trusted by the community. This could be the appointed grassroots leader, or Mrs Chia who volunteers at the seniors activity centre.
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Make Information Accessible
the smallest possible version of a big idea. Find ways to test and improve it with the community. Focus on quick wins and concrete outcomes, and avoid abstract conversations.
The facilitators should be objective, with no stake in the outcome of the activity, and be on an equal level with the participants.
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Talk Less, Do More Involve people with their hands by making and building with them. Sometimes people have ideas that they are not able to articulate as well through words.
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See People For What They Are Good At
Build Capability Over Time
and encourage them to bring those skills and resources to the table. Everyone is an expert in some way, so trust that they know best what they want or need.
Provide training to develop people’s skills and knowledge on issues around them, and create opportunities for them to step up.
Devadas Krishnadas, quoted on the traditional culture of civil servants in ‘Observers on Our SG Conversation’s next lap’. Published Aug 14,2013. Channel News Asia. By Imelda Saad
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Enlist Neutral Facilitators
Allow people to create and own solutions instead of asking them to ‘throw your ideas over the wall, we’ll deal with them and we’ll throw something back’1
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Start By Building
Most people are not used to attending community meetings or workshops, and some can find them intimidating. But they may be willing to offer their input at the coffee shop.
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Facilitate, Not Prescribe
so that more people can understand it. Break down complex information with simpler words; communicate ideas visually or tangibly.
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Go To Where The People Are
Do Not Present A Perfect Solution Instead, intentionally create gaps for people to fill. A product that looks finished sends the message that the idea is final and nothing cannot be changed.