Social Computer Interface

Research indicates a growing dissatisfaction with the regulatory frameworks employed by corporations and government bodies in the design of public spaces. While public engagement methods such as consultations and workshops aim to address this disconnect, they often fall short due to logistical challenges and their inability to effectively include diverse voices. Digital design tools have the potential to bridge this gap, offering a means to empower communities to participate more meaningfully.

However, their technical complexity restricts their accessibility to professionals, limiting their transformative potential in fostering inclusive design processes.

This research seeks to overcome these challenges by developing a digital platform designed to simplify architectural concepts and enhance non-specialists’ ability to contribute to design processes. By translating community input into parametric modeling workflows, the tool aims to enable users to better understand the impact of their contributions on design outcomes.

Using a research-through-design methodology within an action research framework, the study employs iterative cycles of development, testing, and reflection. The platform’s usability and effectiveness are assessed through qualitative and quantitative analyses, focusing on its ability to facilitate meaningful community engagement and influence design decisions.

This research demonstrates that accessible digital tools can play a pivotal role in enhancing collaboration between designers and communities, addressing long-standing power imbalances in architectural decision-making.

By integrating community input directly into parametric modeling workflows, these tools create opportunities for more inclusive and transparent design processes. The findings suggest that such approaches not only empower communities to actively participate in shaping public spaces but also enhance the responsiveness and accountability of design outcomes. This study contributes to the architectural discipline by offering a framework for participatory design that prioritises inclusivity and equity. It advocates for the integration of digital tools into urban planning and architectural workflows, emphasising the need to reimagine decision- making processes to better reflect and respect community voices.