Abstract
In this paper, the author presents an alternative approach to ‘design for democracy,’ drawing on the notion of agonistic pluralism. Specifically, the author highlights the differences between politics and the political within agonistic pluralism, and employing examples of contemporary design projects, discusses how these differences can been seen in the objects and practices of design. Through this critical examination, the author contributes a new perspective to the discourses of ‘design for democracy’ and expands the possibilities for democratic action and critique available to both practicing designers and design scholars.
Keywords
Design, Politics, Political Design, Agonism, Democracy
Citation
DiSalvo, C. (2010) Design, Democracy and Agonistic Pluralism, in Durling, D., Bousbaci, R., Chen, L, Gauthier, P., Poldma, T., Roworth-Stokes, S. and Stolterman, E (eds.), Design and Complexity - DRS International Conference 2010, 7-9 July, Montreal, Canada. https://dl.designresearchsociety.org/drs-conference-papers/drs2010/researchpapers/31
Design, Democracy and Agonistic Pluralism
In this paper, the author presents an alternative approach to ‘design for democracy,’ drawing on the notion of agonistic pluralism. Specifically, the author highlights the differences between politics and the political within agonistic pluralism, and employing examples of contemporary design projects, discusses how these differences can been seen in the objects and practices of design. Through this critical examination, the author contributes a new perspective to the discourses of ‘design for democracy’ and expands the possibilities for democratic action and critique available to both practicing designers and design scholars.