Abstract
This paper presents a failed experiment conducted as part of a PhD participatory action research. The experiment originally aimed to develop an experimental framework for fostering long-term sustainable development in villages by extending the impact of short-term design interventions. Throughout the experiment, a toolkit was designed and iterated three times. Results, however, differed significantly from expectations, leading to a temporary failure of the experiment. To reflect on this outcome and refine future approaches, a ‘Reflection-in action’ perspective was incorporated into the methodology. This paper explores the complexities of creating and sustaining legacies in design practices. It emphasises the need for flexibility and adaptability in village settings as opposed to relying on tools and linear approaches for fixing problems. Additionally, it examines both the tangible and intangible aspects of legacies and discusses the challenges organisers face in building upon legacies to create lasting impact.
Keywords
failure, participatory action research, legacy, reflect-in-action
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/servdes2025.29
Citation
Zhang, C., Auricchio, V.,and Selloni, D.(2025) A Failed Social Innovation Experiment in Rural China, in Mahamuni, R., Onkar, P. (eds.), ServDes 2025: Empowering Diversity, Nurturing Lasting Impact, 6–10 October, Hyderabad, India. https://doi.org/10.21606/servdes2025.29
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
A Failed Social Innovation Experiment in Rural China
This paper presents a failed experiment conducted as part of a PhD participatory action research. The experiment originally aimed to develop an experimental framework for fostering long-term sustainable development in villages by extending the impact of short-term design interventions. Throughout the experiment, a toolkit was designed and iterated three times. Results, however, differed significantly from expectations, leading to a temporary failure of the experiment. To reflect on this outcome and refine future approaches, a ‘Reflection-in action’ perspective was incorporated into the methodology. This paper explores the complexities of creating and sustaining legacies in design practices. It emphasises the need for flexibility and adaptability in village settings as opposed to relying on tools and linear approaches for fixing problems. Additionally, it examines both the tangible and intangible aspects of legacies and discusses the challenges organisers face in building upon legacies to create lasting impact.