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Ely, P., Koskinen, I., Borzenkova, G., Bason, P., Dixon, B., Muradyan, O., Botero, A., Valusyte, R., Morfill, S., Conchis, E., Fomina, N., Gaizauskiene, D., Celi, M., Newell, K., 2026.

Design Fiction for Peace: Participation empathy and place in peacebuilding and social cohesion

Output Type:Conference paper
Publication:Pdc 2026 Proceedings of the 19th Participatory Design Conference 2026 Vol 3 Workshops Situated Actions and Pdc Places
Pagination:pp. 181-184

In these distributed workshops and exhibition, we examine fiction as a design method for the creation of service and civil society concepts, creating the conditions for empathy and dialogue in the context of conflict and peace. We explore how ideas emergent in design fiction, peace studies and peacebuilding practice can be applicable to participatory design practice and examine ways that these ideas can be applied to locations (places) around Europe that are experiencing different phases of violent conflict. Our hope is to develop empathic appreciation within communities - by design - to reduce the polarizing effects of 'othering' and promote the conditions for peaceful, collective continuance.