Brukarbrukarar

Brukarbrukarar is a neologism from Norwegian-language discourse that combines brukar (user) and brukarar (the plural form, users). The term is used to describe a group or collective of end users who act as both participants and advocates in the design, governance, or evaluation of services, products, or digital platforms.

Definition and use

Brukarbrukarar refers to a community of users who engage actively with development processes. Rather than being passive recipients, they organize, test, review, and communicate user needs and experiences to developers and decision-makers. The concept emphasizes mutuality among users and positions them as co-designers or co-governors in certain contexts.

Etymology and typology

The word is built from brukar and brukarar, with reduplication that signals emphasis on plurality and a shared, collective identity. It is not standardized in dictionaries and is used primarily in informal, participatory-design discussions. Depending on context, it can carry neutral, aspirational, or critical connotations about how user involvement should work in practice.

Applications

In participatory design, co-design projects, and municipal or community tech initiatives, brukarbrukarar may organize feedback sessions, facilitate user-testing, or represent diverse user groups in decision forums. The term can help foreground the idea that end users are a community with common interests and responsibilities in shaping outcomes.

Criticism and reception

As a relatively new and context-dependent term, brukarbrukarar can be seen as ambiguous or open to misinterpretation. Critics worry about role clarity, potential co-optation, or the dilution of professional expertise. It remains most visible in Norwegian-language discussions and is not widely adopted in formal standards.

See also

Participatory design, user-centered design, co-design, user representation.