| Title |
Local Governance and Participatory Design Process - A Case Study of Mangwon Bike Path |
| Authors |
Ahn Hyun-Chan ; Park So-Hyun |
| Keywords |
Participatory Design ; Local Governance ; Design Making Process ; Conflict Resolution ; Mangwon-ro ; Bike Path |
| Abstract |
This paper examines participatory design process through a local governance perspective. Defining participatory design processes as decision-making systems, operated by conflict mediations among stakeholders, this paper articulates specific characteristics of participatory design process in relation to local governance mechanisms. The purpose of this paper is to illuminate participatory design process as critical catalysts of conflict resolutions and of community empowerment. Based on a case study of Mangwon Bike Path Project, in which the authors had opportunities to participate from its initial preparation phase to recent monitoring phase, this paper renews our understandings of participatory design process with respect to the process's ultimate goals, roles, and contributions. Research methods of this paper include literature review, site observation, stakeholder interviews, and resident workshops. Contrary to common assumptions on participatory design processes, this paper argues that design conflicts among stakeholders could contribute at the end to better decision makings, more concrete implementations, and more efficient maintenances, if the various conflicts were resolved properly. With further studies on power dynamics among stakeholders, institutional bases, and transportation limits in coming years, this paper could provide more in-depth natures and roles of participatory design process in Korea. |