In the post COVID world, complexity and diversity of todays civilisations call for new approaches to building community and interacting with individuals. The concept called „Participatory Design“ is actively helping people, especially designers, take part in transforming their surroundings and forging meaningful connections. The use of participatory design in community building activities is investigated in this thesis with a focus on communities in the design industry.

The study makes an effort to understand the unique advantages and disadvantages that influence the development of participatory design methodologies in the context of community building. Using existing literatures and case studies on the topic, the study explores the theoretical definitions of a community as well as guiding principles, and methodology of participatory design. It also examines how participatory design affects social cohesiveness, engagement, and the advancement of inclusive and accessible environments within a community.

The comparative study also emphasises how important it is for community leaders to consider local historical, social, and cultural conditions when using participatory design methodologies. With this study, further efforts are made to create a community which highlights the importance of involvement and adaptability in participatory design as well as the need to address potential power imbalances and participation barriers.