Together - Design concepts for improving youth participation in decision-making processes in Helsinki

dc.contributorAalto Universityen
dc.contributorAalto-yliopistofi
dc.contributor.advisorLeinonen, Teemu
dc.contributor.authorAlkan, Hazal
dc.contributor.departmentDepartment of Mediaen
dc.contributor.departmentMedian laitosfi
dc.contributor.schoolTaiteiden ja suunnittelun korkeakoulufi
dc.contributor.schoolSchool of Arts, Design and Architectureen
dc.contributor.supervisorLeinonen, Teemu
dc.date.accessioned2019-11-24T16:00:12Z
dc.date.available2019-11-24T16:00:12Z
dc.date.issued2019
dc.description.abstractCurrent democratic practises remain insufficient to equally involve citizens from different socio-economic backgrounds in the decision-making processes. In direct and representative democracy models, the practises may not protect minorities or give citizens enough opportunities to build a political intellect. Therefore, along with these models, conceptual framework of this thesis embraces deliberative democracy and Habermasian public sphere to improve young citizen’s participation and political intellect in decision-making processes in Helsinki. The research is based on human-centred and participatory design methods with systems thinking approach. Throughout the research, 6 stakeholders are interviewed to explore existing practices and systemic problems in the field. The interview findings show that stakeholders struggle to provide political education and incentives to participate especially to the ethnic youth. Consequently, 3 design concepts are developed, and then validated in a participatory workshop with 4 young people aged between 14-19. The results indicate that young people could be educated about politics by attracting their attention to the subjects they care such as, student discounts and age limits. Additionally, social media tools could be utilized to help them creatively express themselves. These expressions could be the source of input for decision-makers. Lastly, young people do not prefer participating in face-to-face discussions due to the fear of peer judgement. Therefore, these discussions could be moved to judgement-free cyberspaces. All in all, the research results could be developed further to provide political awareness and unconventional ways of youth participation. Moreover, interview findings could be utilized to enhance stakeholder relationships and overall efficacy of the field.en
dc.format.extent79+6
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.urihttps://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/handle/123456789/41338
dc.identifier.urnURN:NBN:fi:aalto-201911246313
dc.language.isoenen
dc.locationP1 OPINNÄYTTEET D 2019 Alkan
dc.programmeNew Media Design and Productionen
dc.subject.keywordpolitical participationen
dc.subject.keywordyouth participationen
dc.subject.keywordequality (values)en
dc.subject.keywordparticipatory designen
dc.subject.keywordhuman-centred designen
dc.subject.keywordsystems thinkingen
dc.subject.keywordconcept designen
dc.titleTogether - Design concepts for improving youth participation in decision-making processes in Helsinkien
dc.typeG2 Pro gradu, diplomityöfi
dc.type.ontasotMaster's thesisen
dc.type.ontasotMaisterin opinnäytefi
local.aalto.barcode1210015629

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