MetaDesign: Beyond User-Centered and Participatory Design

Meta-design characterizes objectives, techniques, and processes for creating new media and environments that allow the owners of problems to act as designers. A fundamental objective of meta-design is to create socio-technical environments that empower users to engage in informed participation rather than being restricted to the use of existing systems. The seeding, evolutionary growth, reseeding model is a process model that supports meta-design. We have explored and assessed meta-design approaches in the development of innovative computational environments and in our teaching and learning activities.