In the Relational Sandbox: Deep Democracy and Technology

Alma Leora Culén; Nicholas Sebastian Stevens; Jasmin Niess; Sisse  Finken; Jason Miklian; Kristian Hoelscher

doi:10.21606/nordes.2025.77

In the Relational Sandbox: Deep Democracy and Technology

Alma Leora Culén
, Nicholas Sebastian Stevens
, Jasmin Niess
, Sisse Finken
, Jason Miklian
, Kristian Hoelscher

Publikation: Konference artikel i Proceeding eller bog/rapport kapitel › Konferencebidrag i proceedings › Forskning › peer review

Abstract

Designing for democracy often emphasizes values while overlooking the role of relationships in shaping civic life. This workshop explores how relationality – encompassing social ties, political agency, and economic conditions – shapes
grassroots democratic experiments and the technologies they inspire. Grounded in principles of deep democracy and participatory approaches, we use the Relational Sandbox to conduct small- scale experiments on how democratic technologies can redistribute power and how locally rooted designs can resist extractive technology development. Through the lens of relational civics, we co-imagine strategies prioritizing meaningful, democratic technologies over capital-driven ones. The workshop invites designers, activists, and researchers to co-develop strategies and design guidelines that place relationships at the center of
democratic practice.

Originalsprog	Engelsk
Titel	Relational Design : Proceedings of the 11th Nordic Design Research Society (NORDES) Conference
Redaktører	Andrew Morrison, Alma Culén, Laurence Habib
Antal sider	5
Udgivelsessted	Oslo, Norway
Forlag	Nordes
Publikationsdato	6 aug. 2025
Sider	785-789
ISBN (Elektronisk)	978-1-912294-58-9
DOI	https://doi.org/10.21606/nordes.2025.77
Status	Udgivet - 6 aug. 2025
Begivenhed	Relational Design - Norway, Oslo, Norge Varighed: 6 aug. 2025 → 8 aug. 2025 Konferencens nummer: 11 https://nordes.org/

Konference

Konference	Relational Design
Nummer	11
Lokation	Norway
Land/Område	Norge
By	Oslo
Periode	06/08/2025 → 08/08/2025
Internetadresse	https://nordes.org/

Adgang til dokumentet

10.21606/nordes.2025.77Licens: CC BY-NC

In the relational sandbox_ Deep democracy and technologyForlagets udgivne version, 425 KBLicens: CC BY-NC

Citationsformater

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Culén, AL, Stevens, NS, Niess, J, Finken, S, Miklian, J & Hoelscher, K 2025, In the Relational Sandbox: Deep Democracy and Technology. i A Morrison, A Culén & L Habib (red), Relational Design: Proceedings of the 11th Nordic Design Research Society (NORDES) Conference. Nordes, Oslo, Norway, s. 785-789, Relational Design, Oslo, Norge, 06/08/2025. https://doi.org/10.21606/nordes.2025.77

In the Relational Sandbox: Deep Democracy and Technology. / Culén, Alma Leora; Stevens, Nicholas Sebastian; Niess, Jasmin et al.
Relational Design: Proceedings of the 11th Nordic Design Research Society (NORDES) Conference. red. / Andrew Morrison; Alma Culén; Laurence Habib. Oslo, Norway: Nordes, 2025. s. 785-789.

Publikation: Konference artikel i Proceeding eller bog/rapport kapitel › Konferencebidrag i proceedings › Forskning › peer review

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In the Relational Sandbox: Deep Democracy and Technology

Abstract

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