Power imbalances and prototyping new ideas

So you’re energized about prototyping out a new idea. The team wants to get community feedback. You start to develop a plan.

It’s time to take a moment—to intentionally pause—and consider how power imbalances will show up here.

It’s not so much a question of “if” they’ll show up. In our work as designers, power imbalances are almost always present.

And, in general, most food organizations that provide community members or other community organizations with essential services or funding are inherently operating in a power asymmetry, where one has more power and/or resources than the other.

Asking for feedback from people or organizations that benefit from your programs or services can put pressure on those individuals or groups to feel like they have to respond in a certain way in order to not risk losing those benefits.

As you develop and try out your prototypes, consider how power imbalances can influence people and the work, what you can do to mitigate those risks, and how you can share the power you do have. You’ll only strengthen your prototyping process.

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