Participation in design research

To unravel the complex challenges addressed by design, oftentimes it can be necessary for researchers to participate in design processes rather than make observations from outside. However, ‘participation’ has different meanings in different kinds of design research, and research outcomes will depend on the form of participation chosen. Through a Dimensional Analysis, we establish seven dimensions on how participation in design research can be classified in terms of 1) the researcher-designer role, 2) the aim of the project, 3) the main contribution, 4) the activities of the researcher, 5) if it is a single or multi-case study, 6) the scientific reporting on the project, and 7) the kind of knowledge produced. This overview aims to assist researchers in communicating how choices for a particular participatory approach contribute to knowledge production in design research.