Community-centred Design for Social Innovation: Bottom-up and Government initiatives in Shanghai

Abstract

This paper reports on the findings of a Delphi survey to provide a promising framework for China’s community-centred design for social innovation. The survey was conducted in the scope of doctoral research, which studies bottom-up and top-down approaches to achieving long-term sustainability and building a better future in Chinese local communities. The research draws on three case studies in Chinese territory and respective participatory design processes: the Xixi Garden and Shanghai Playscape in Shanghai and the Community Museum in Xiazhu Village, Zhuji City, Zhejiang Province. The research has produced both qualitative and quantitative data, and by using the Delphi technique, a panel of experts of Chinese and European Professors and Designers reached a consensus about priorities for developing China’s community-centred design for social innovation. This paper presents the findings and examines the experts’ consensus that participatory methodologies and processes are crucial in bottom-up and government initiatives. They rethink the traditional top-down models while giving the bottom-up the right to speak and make decisions, enabling spontaneous participation in activities to achieve sustainable development interventions. It can provide an equal communication platform for in-depth communication between top-down and government initiatives to build a better future. This could be considered detailed guidelines and recommendations to improve the future of China’s bottom-up and top-down approaches in social innovation and design.

Presenters

Aoni Zhang
PhD Researcher, School of Architecture, University of Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal

Inês Veiga
Invited Professor, Design, Lisbon School of Architecture, Portugal

Antonio Gorgel Pinto
Assistant Professor and Researcher, Design, IADE, Faculty of Design, Technology and Communication, European University, Lisboa, Portugal

Details

Presentation Type

Paper Presentation in a Themed Session

Theme

Design in Society

KEYWORDS

COMMUNITY-CENTERED DESIGN,DESIGN FOR SOCIAL INNOVATION,PARTICIPATORY DESIGN PROCESS,GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES AND BOTTOM-UP,THE DELPHI METHOD