Abstract
This In response to complex and interrelated societal challenges such as climate change, aging populations, and urban fragmentation, Urban Living Labs (ULLs) have emerged as a promising framework to facilitate citizen-driven innovation. This study investigates how citizens can transition from one-time participants to continuous co-designers through a case study of the “Komae Machi- Transition Lab” conducted in Komae City, Tokyo. Drawing on participatory design theory and the concept of infra structuring, the research examines the design, implementation, and impact of a four- session ULL program aimed at fostering local agency and sustained engagement. Through semi-structured interviews with 10 participants, we conducted a qualitative analysis to identify factors influencing the formation and continuation of citizen agency. The findings reveal that the integration of action-oriented workshops, flexible support structures, and peer collaboration fosters not only individual transformation but also sustained involvement with the community. Participants reported increased motivation, deeper understanding of local issues, and strengthened relationships with fellow citizens and public institutions. This study highlights the importance of designing open- ended, reflexive frameworks that extend beyond project completion and function as social infrastructures for civic engagement. Unlike many institutionalized Living Labs, the Komae case illustrates a model of continuity driven by informal relationships, emotional attachment, and context- sensitive facilitation. By situating citizen co-design within the Japanese socio-cultural context, this research contributes theoretical and practical insights into how Urban Living Labs can be structured to support long-term transformation in community engagement and urban governance.
Keywords
Living Lab; Participatory Design; Research through Design; Local Community
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2025.682
Citation
Terauchi, R.,and Mizuno, D.(2025) From Citizens to Continuous Co-designers? – Analyzing the Case of Living Lab in Komae, in Chang, C.-Y., and Hsu, Y. (eds.), IASDR 2025: Design Next, 02-05 December, Taiwan. https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2025.682
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Conference Track
Track 6 - Co-creation
From Citizens to Continuous Co-designers? – Analyzing the Case of Living Lab in Komae
This In response to complex and interrelated societal challenges such as climate change, aging populations, and urban fragmentation, Urban Living Labs (ULLs) have emerged as a promising framework to facilitate citizen-driven innovation. This study investigates how citizens can transition from one-time participants to continuous co-designers through a case study of the “Komae Machi- Transition Lab” conducted in Komae City, Tokyo. Drawing on participatory design theory and the concept of infra structuring, the research examines the design, implementation, and impact of a four- session ULL program aimed at fostering local agency and sustained engagement. Through semi-structured interviews with 10 participants, we conducted a qualitative analysis to identify factors influencing the formation and continuation of citizen agency. The findings reveal that the integration of action-oriented workshops, flexible support structures, and peer collaboration fosters not only individual transformation but also sustained involvement with the community. Participants reported increased motivation, deeper understanding of local issues, and strengthened relationships with fellow citizens and public institutions. This study highlights the importance of designing open- ended, reflexive frameworks that extend beyond project completion and function as social infrastructures for civic engagement. Unlike many institutionalized Living Labs, the Komae case illustrates a model of continuity driven by informal relationships, emotional attachment, and context- sensitive facilitation. By situating citizen co-design within the Japanese socio-cultural context, this research contributes theoretical and practical insights into how Urban Living Labs can be structured to support long-term transformation in community engagement and urban governance.