Democratic Design

Participatory design is an attitude about a force for change in the creation and management of environments for people. Its strength lies in being a movement that cuts across traditional professional boundaries and cultures. Its roots lie in the ideals of a participatory democracy where collective decision-making is highly decentralized throughout all sectors of society, so that all individuals learn participatory skills and can effectively participate in various ways in the making of all decisions that affect them. This collection represents the authors case studies in urban and small town environments in Australia, Brazil, Japan, Mexico and the United States. They illustrate a variety of community participation methods that can be adapted for use in different environmental settings. This book can be beneficial to architects, planners, local authorities, public officials, and citizens who wish to make it possible for people to be involved in shaping and managing their environment.