When Is a Prototype a Politics?

“When Is a Prototype a Politics?”

Started by Alex R · Posted July 1, 2025 · Channel: General Discourse

We often frame prototypes as “just exploratory,” but they shape expectations, language, and even resource flows. In what ways have you seen design artifacts operate *politically*, whether intended or not?

Curious to hear your examples—whether cautionary or hopeful. Bonus points if they emerged from unlikely collaborations ✨

Replies

Mira D · July 2

I remember a prototype voting booth we tested in Bogotá. It was aesthetic, interactive—but ended up excluding elders because of the touchscreen. It *looked* democratic but wasn’t yet inclusive.
SEED Collective · July 3

Our “empathy index” interface got picked up by an urban policing unit—and misused. Changed how we now narrate tools: not just “what it does” but also “how it might be co-opted.”
Want to add your voice?
Post a Reply (Coming Soon)