Design for Equivalence

Abstract

This paper introduces design for equivalence, an approach to participatory design (PD) that centers systematically excluded individuals and groups and their matters of care, while scaffolding different types of expertise, to address social injustice. Design for equivalence is a theoretical contribution that emerges from a critical analysis of Chantal Mouffe's theory of agonistic pluralism in PD. In this paper, we first review Mouffe's conceptualization of agonism arguing a key construct of her theory—the chain of equivalence—has been absent in recent PD formulations of agonistic pluralism that seek to create collective, counter-hegemonic, and emancipatory responses to complex social problems. Next, we discuss the implications of these formulations relative to PD practices, participants, and outcomes. Lastly, we develop an approach that offers a set of provisional, practical guiding principles for PD processes to challenge structural inequality by creating articulations of the common good that are strong enough to counter power.

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