Multi-lifespan information system design in support of transitional justice: Evolving situated design principles for the Long(er) Term

Abstract

Human societies face some significant problems-such as those tied to limitations of the human psyche, to tears in the social fabric, and to slow-moving natural processes-that defy rapid solution. Correspondingly, information systems that help to address these problems also develop over long(er) periods of time. Yet contemporary research and industry information system design is held to increasingly ambitious project deadlines. Research that engages with long(er) term design processes from diverse perspectives and theoretical orientations is needed. Early efforts of this ilk in the human-computer interaction community can be found around domains such as conflict and post-conflict situations, crisis informatics, collapse informatics, cultural heritage and sustainability. The work reported here joins this literature-in the context of recovering from genocide and the development of systems of transitional justice- and draws from the theoretical framing of multi-lifespan design. Specifically, we report on the first 8 years of a multi-lifespan information system design project-the Voices from the Rwanda Tribunal-to support aspects of transitional justice in Rwanda. We offer a systematic presentation of the project's design principles and explicate the development of those guiding design principles through our engagement with a set of nine design challenges. We provide design reflections that pertain to information systems for transitional justice, conducting multi-lifespan information system design under shifting socio-political and technical conditions, and engaging with value sensitive design. We conclude with our contributions and open questions.