MetaDesign

Metadesign is a design approach that designs the design—i.e., the conditions, tools, and governance mechanisms that enable other people to participate in shaping artifacts, services, and systems over time. Rather than delivering a fixed product, metadesign aims to establish open-ended processes and infrastructures that support ongoing co-creation, adaptation, and learning within complex social and technical contexts.

The term has been advanced in design discourse by Ezio Manzini and collaborators, particularly within sustainable design and social innovation. It treats design as a platform for collective action, drawing on participatory design, systems thinking, and platform thinking to address uncertain futures and diverse local needs. Metadesign emphasizes the role of design in enabling agency and collaboration across multiple stakeholders, rather than prescribing a single optimal solution.

Key elements include design platforms or toolkits, modular components, governance rules, licensing models, and shared languages that help heterogeneous actors collaborate while preserving coherence. It focuses on providing autonomy for participants within boundaries that ensure compatibility, quality, and safety. Methods often involve scenario exploration, open data, transparent decision-making dashboards, and co-design workshops that invite various communities to contribute ideas and adaptations.

Applications span urban design, education, digital platforms, and policy experimentation. Examples include community-led urban initiatives, open-source hardware and software ecosystems, and participatory budgeting or governance platforms that enable ongoing citizen input. Critiques address potential power imbalances, governance complexity, and the need for sustained stewardship, with success dependent on inclusive participation, credible incentives, and clear evaluation criteria.