Debate, consulting and decision making
The project attempted to learn from the community values and problems of the crofting practice and went on to explore how this learning can be used to design a comprehensive, inclusive, transparent and accountable system of consulting and decision making for the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.
MY ROLE
Design Researcher
INSTRUMENTS
YEAR
Interviews
Community Engagement
Design probes
Stakeholder mapping
Storyboarding
Personas
2016
The challenge
Note: This was a group project, developed in collaboration with Palash, Yanxi and Jiaojiao.
Research on Crofting, a practice intrinsic to the region, helped us to understand the structure and functioning mechanisms of the communities in the Outer Hebridean islands. The research made us realize the potential of the community values, when we read about the Stòras Uibhist Community Wind Farm Project in South Uist and accompanied by our interviews with the people from the Island, it also led us to believe that "consulting and decision making" might be a potential area of intervention where these values can be used as guidelines.
Discovery
Before going into one of the islands, we spent some time in Inverness, where we met local activists interested in promoting economy growth and social change in the H&I. Through visual props, we facilitated conversations with them and learned about local practices, like Crofting. We learned it is an intrinsic activity of the region that is no longer practiced for economic reasons, but merely cultural heritage. The strong bond that this activity promotes was reflected inn recent years when a group of people in the island of South Uist, came together and bought some land to build a wind farm for the benefit of the whole area.
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We then visited South Uist, an island only accessible through ferry when weather permits. We performed interviews with locals and learned about their roles in the community, their rituals and ceremonies that kept them so close to each other, despite the distance between them. We also learned how recent decisions coming from national authorities had impacted their economy and their opinion on them.
As cities became bigger in the UK, the Highlands and Islands of Scotland seem to have become a completely different place, compared to cities like Glasgow or London. The physical distance is not the only contributor, but also de language and cultural baggage of the Islands, has influenced the way communities operate and function. Yet, they are ruled by the same authorities.
We started exploring what were the consequences of this cultural gap and how the values of the Hebridean communities could be leveraged to improve their relationship with regional and national authorities when making decisions for the islands.
Decision making landscape
Establishing a landscape starting from the communities at the centre and placing other stakeholders according to their position (structurally and geographically). Figuring out stakeholders who can work together in a project or whose relation and position is not clear leading to accountability problems.
Geographical gap in decision making
Geographicallly locating the point for which decision is being take and points which are taking the decision.
Geometry of decision making
Instead of being centralized top-down and symmetric, decisions should be local down-up and facilitate asymmetry.
The values of the Hebrides
Interdependency. There is one single shop and one cafe in South Uist. The rest are all closed, including a butcher shop, a clothes shop, the visitor center, etc.
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Identity. “The comprehension of the EU is that anything in Scotland is the same as that on the UK and that then becomes London. But in the Highlands and Islands, things are completely different.”
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Flexibility in occupation. People can do two or three jobs for a living. The fireman can be the postman and electrician at the same time.
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Land attachment. “I try to get involved in everything regarding the island. Life is hard here, but I’m not going anywhere”
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The word of mouth. Consultations happen in the Community Centre. They are advertised in local places like the pink cafe, charity shops and the coop.
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The concept
Ar-abair is a gaelic expression that means "Our say." The proposed system facilitates conversations between communities and local, regional and national authorities, so that decisions are taken locally and down-up. This approach enables the voice of islanders to be heard as well as becoming a foundation for policy making in the region. The system includes a consultation process where efficient communication, settings and conditions enable and encourage participation of all citizens, either physical or remote. Discussions and consensus happen in small groups and then communicated to local authorities through designated representatives. Final decisions are communicated through traditional media like community centers and cafés and also through a platform designed to keep islanders informed.
Inclusive consultation
Everyone should get to know where, when, and how the consultation meetings happen, whether they use technology or not. They should be able to participate even if they can not attend physically for distance or time reasons.
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"I got to know about the consultations regarding bus timetables one week after it was over. I heard just one person showed up" — Stewart, Shopkeeper. South Uist.
Transparent and accountable decisions
After the consultations happen, the participation and communication of the outcomes do not reach locals.
"It was a 12m project and they said tha the Ayshire seaweed factory would create houses and jobs. Last year they shifted the site to Oban. No factory, no houses, no jobs." — Stewart, Shopkeeper. South Uist.
Comprehensive consultation
All participants should feel encouraged to express their opinion, even if they are shy or easily intimidated.
"People feel shy to raise their hand and express their opinion in front of all the assistants. Therefore, they decide to keep silent. There are one or two people who always speak up in meetings, the rest never speak ." — Beatrix, Crofter. South Uist.