Knowledge base
The methodology of participation, made clear. Professional knowledge in plain language — what a decision-maker or an interested resident should know.
A lot is said about citizen participation, but the concepts blur together. What is the difference between consultation and engagement? Why isn't a public forum enough? How can a small group reflect the diversity of the district?
These are the questions we answer — organised into series, so that the connections show through, not just the individual entries.
Series · 7 parts
The basics of participation
What does it mean to involve people in a decision — and what does it not mean?
Series · 7 parts
Methods in practice
How we draw lots, how we inform, how we moderate.
Series · 4 parts
International examples
Where has it already worked, and what did we learn from it?
Assembly reports
The documentation of our assemblies
We publish not only the theory but also the reports of our own assemblies — background material, recommendations, decision-maker responses.
Urban-development topics?
If your interest is not participation but urban development or experimental innovation, you'll find materials in the knowledge bases of our sister laboratories: Living Lab writes about the compact city and social innovation, while Urban Lab covers urban development and the economy.
Want to hear about new materials?
One email a month about our participatory projects, our assemblies and the new knowledge-base materials.