Design for Democratic Innovation in Taiwan

Abstract

This chapter takes a broader look at Service Design and design practice in terms of the resonance with co-creation and civic participation, which are core elements of democracy. Service Design helps innovate public services and policies through obtaining deep insights from different perspectives, reframing problems, co-creating, and testing with relevant stakeholders. At Public Digital Innovation Space (PDIS) in Taiwan, the ways of approaching challenges using the processes and methods of Service Design need to be re-examined and improved based on the ever-changing context of the Taiwanese central government and its complex systems. As the discipline of Public Service Design develops, it is crucial to reflect on its thinking, doing, and opportunities to support democratic innovation. Responses to questions like “Who designs services and policies?”, “Who and what do we prioritize?”, “Who and what are being left out of the design process?”, “How might we transcend the limitation of representation?”, “How might we truly co-create rather than fall into the trap of tokenistic participation?” and “How might we create civic spaces for co-creation?” will affect how society as a whole evolves. Strategies and approaches for democratic innovation through the lens of design are being elaborated on in this chapter, from accounting for all perspectives to institutionalization, followed by discussions and conclusions. Democratic innovation requires a robust civil society to support the work, and the work also reinforces a stronger civil society.