“Decolonizing Design Research” is a workshop series exploring how research can create spaces and places that are anti-racist and just. The dominance of western design aesthetics and research methods are largely invisible, and, as a result, design practices can reinforce existing power structures that are harmful to many. This series will provide a space to understand how to mitigate bias in design research methods and learn about less familiar methods used in other disciplines.
The first workshop in the series, “Decolonizing Design Research: Citizen Participation,” will feature a conversation between practitioners about the principles and the legacy of citizen participation, followed by a hands-on workshop to help each participant find applications for this approach and reflect on the barriers to bringing this to mainstream practice.