participatory workshops

Participatory workshops in my understanding are active learning environments that are based on activities that help supporting and bringing out creativity in the participants.The interactions help participants broaden their vision and the tasks help them create new expressions. Working together, the facilitators and the participants have an exchange of learning. The former learns about the existing skills, working environments and areas that he/she can help bringing innovation to.

Participatory workshop are especially helpful and useful in craft NGO sectors. Often in setups such as Sandur and Anegundi, the artisans are self trained or trained by their families. It is a form of livelihood for them rather than a vocation or hobby, hence design innovation is limited and mechanical production is given priority. This leads to a stagnancy in product lines. Also a lack of exposure and familiarity of the users, who are in distant cities, brings about disconnect between the products and the requirements of the market. This is where designers and participatory workshops can play a big role in bringing innovation. The activities provide a forum for identifying and discussing issues. They give users a voice in the design process, thus increasing the probability of a usable design. Here there is an opportunity for developers to meet, work with and understand their users personally.

A platform is created where there is the artisan is given the importance of a designer, and new design processes are introduced to them.

Preparing for a workshop- a few notes

This would include a thorough understanding of the systems that are currently in place, and identifying issues and possible solutions. These may not be the final solutions , but they will help to conduct the workshops. The workshops will be a good place to break down assumptions and bring about solutions from the artisans themselves.

Based on the problems perceived, the next step could be to think of activities. It is important to be clear about the techniques and the purpose of each activity. It is also important to know all the participants and create a comfortable working environment before beginning the activity.

Keeping personal log books for each of them will help them record their design process and see assess the impact of the workshop.