The term 'participation' is used frequently within the contexts of design, art, new media and innovation. What is called participation is often no more than simple interaction with participants. A recent generation of designers and artists are noticing an increasing desire for real cooperation, but setting up projects in a participatory way is often not part of their skills.

Participation Is Risky describes the negotiations that designers and artist engage in when setting up participatory projects with familiar and strange, public an private, professional an amateur, and other participants. These negotiations are defined as risky trade-offs. 'Risky' reflects the ucertainty that artists, designers and participants experience in participatory contexts. Based on case studies and a review of the literature, this book offers insight in these uncertain, but valuable trade-offs in a hands-on and reflective way.

The term 'participation' is used frequently within the contexts of design, art, new media and innovation. What is called participation is often no more than simple interaction with participants. A recent generation of designers and artists are noticing an increasing desire for real cooperation, but setting up projects in a participatory way is often not part of their skills.

Participation Is Risky describes the negotiations that designers and artist engage in when setting up participatory projects with familiar and strange, public an private, professional an amateur, and other participants. These negotiations are defined as risky trade-offs. 'Risky' reflects the ucertainty that artists, designers and participants experience in participatory contexts. Based on case studies and a review of the literature, this book offers insight in these uncertain, but valuable trade-offs in a hands-on and reflective way.