Participatory design means collaborating with those closest to a problem to create a collective solution. It is an approach that prioritizes equity and shared decision making power, working against existing systems of oppression. It can take different forms: from doing meaningful consultation with communities to involving them more deeply in decisions. Selecting your participatory approach at the outset of a project sets the tone for how you will center, care for, and learn with community members. This creates space for critical conversations with the design team and project stakeholders.