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Authors: Saskia van Kampen, Cheryl Giraudy
Keywords: reciprocity, community, social responsibility, inclusive design, applied arts, research practices, ethics
Abstract: It is a requirement for university faculty to engage in research in order to develop their own practices, to stay engaged within their discipline, as well as to bolster the prestige of the university through accolades, grants, and research breakthroughs. In the applied arts, research studies that involve human participants require research ethics compliance and, at times, requests that funds be allocated for honorariums or small gifts as a means of compensation for participant input. In many situations these requisites are satisfactory. However, there are times when this is inappropriate or even detrimental to those who are being engaged. This paper will not be discussing the primary research findings of a project involving grassroots placemaking in disenfranchised and underserved communities, rather it will cast light on issues that arose as we moved through the organization and conducting of community workshops—issues including the erosion of trust between community members and researchers due to lack of reciprocity and the fatigue of being constant objects of study with little recourse. The research project in question is Design Wo/Manifesto 2020—a participatory action research project which works with communities in Toronto, Canada, to uncover stories of grassroots placemaking and community building that is done through creative practice. People working at the grassroots level can impact the material and emotional state of their surroundings, and the many ad hoc solutions demonstrate that community placemaking can address gaps in broader city planning, can empower those who make a change, and can legitimize lived experiences. However, entering into these communities as researchers requires empathy, understanding, and reciprocity that extends far beyond checking off the ethics box and obligatory thank-you gift. Based on secondary observations and shared experiences of participants in the Design Wo/Manifesto research project, this paper asks how academic research can benefit the university, the researchers, as well as the communities being studied.