CREATIVE
Framework of Analysis: Participatory Design
Project Type:
Research Publication
Published as: Joyce, K., & Loebach, J. (2026). Co-designing outdoor playspaces with children: A framework for analyzing participant design priorities. Design Studies, 103, Article 101377. (Publication Link)
This research addresses a critical gap in participatory design practice: the lack of systematic methods for analyzing and synthesizing diverse outputs (e.g., photos, written and verbal contributions, and designs) from co-design processes. While participatory approaches have become increasingly common in environmental design, frameworks for effectively translating user contributions into design priorities remain underdeveloped. The PrEP (Priority Experiences of Participants) framework offers design and planning practitioners a structured methodology to identify and elevate user priorities in ways that can meaningfully and flexibly inform design solutions.
The PrEP framework consists of four stages that systematically translate co-design engagements into structured experiential priorities.
Approach and Learnings
Methods
We tested our framework in the real world by working with elementary school children to redesign their playground. Instead of just asking "what do you want in your outdoor space?" we developed a systematic way to analyze everything they created during co-design sessions, from photos and drawings to discussions and design models. The framework uses both qualitative and quantitative techniques to identify patterns across different types of co-design outputs, ensuring quieter voices aren't drowned out by the loudest participants. This work has been disseminated internationally, with presentations at the International Association of People-Environment Studies conference in Barcelona and an upcoming presentation at the Environmental Design Research Association conference in Nova Scotia (May 2025). A detailed manuscript is currently under review with a peer-reviewed journal.
Findings
The magic happens when we shift focus from specific design features to what we call "umbrella experiences." Rather than just noting that kids want climbing walls or slides, we discover they prioritize overarching experiences like "being high up" or "using shortcuts and secret passageways." This subtle but powerful shift in how we analyze and translate co-design data gives designers much more creative freedom while still honoring what participants value most. For example, the desire to "be high up" could be satisfied through platforms, lookout towers, or elevated walkways, not just traditional climbing equipment. And the experience of "using shortcuts and secret passageways" could be honored through incorporation of tunnel structures or even intentional holes and gaps in fences. This framework encourages more innovative designs that better serve users' needs while strengthening democratic design processes.