The Design and Policy Network brings together researchers in design, the humanities, political science with practitioners in government and public policy and design. Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the network is based jointly at the University of the Arts London and in the politics department at the University of Manchester and will run for 18 months between May 2022-November 2023.

We invite researchers and PhD students in studies of design, political science, public administration, the humanities and practitioners working in public policy, public services and related organisations such as think tanks to engage, discuss, explore potential collaborations and develop new understandings of the potential and limitations of design in public policy.

In this, the Network's third workshop, the relationship between design, democracy and the formulation of public policy will be examined.

Expertise in design has already been proven to help people think differently about how to develop and deliver services, processes, strategies and policies. It is a part of a family of approaches that shares an interest in attending to lived experience and participation, using evidence to shape decisions, and creative methods such as visualisation.

Some of these activities have been focused on generating improved, concrete outcomes in specific policy areas - what has been called ‘participation for design’ (Saguin and Cashore, 2022). But less well understood are ‘designs for participation’. Here design is focused on improving civic participation as an end in itself (Richardson, 2017), for example through experimental participation (DiSalvo, 2022), and has potential for strengthening democracy more broadly (Saward, 2021).

To what extent can design help democracy? How can democratic thinking challenge design or suggest or demand new forms of design?

The workshop will begin with provocations from invited speakers, Prof Joyce Yee (Northumbria University), Prof Michael Saward (University of Warwick) and Catherine Greig (Founder and Director of make:good ltd) followed by discussion and an activity in breakout groups. It will be co-chaired by Professor Lucy Kimbell (UAL) and Professor Liz Richardson (University of Manchester) who jointly convene the network.

Learn more about the AHRC Design and Policy Network.

AHRC Design & Policy Network Workshop: Democracy, Design and Public Policy