The Evolving Relationship between Designers and Non-Designers

Design has always involved collaboration. What is changing is the ability of people without formal design training to generate ideas, create prototypes and directly shape design outcomes. The panel will explore: • How the relationship between designers and non-designers has changed • What wider participation in design makes possible • What should become shared—and what still requires specialist expertise • How new tools are changing critique, authorship, trust and decision-making • Where collaboration strengthens the work and where it creates tension How designers can contribute without becoming either gatekeepers or service providers What healthier multidisciplinary practice could look like The discussion will examine not only who can produce design, but how different forms of knowledge and judgement should work together.