Spotlight on Ziwei (Zoey)Lin’s PhD in Progress
Project Description
This project focuses on the application of service design in rural governance and revitalisation in China, with Pujiang County in Chengdu as the primary field site. Integrating co-design, participatory design, design for policy, and speculative design methods, the project explores how design can empower grassroots governance and community development. The research team conducted fieldwork in six villages, including Mingyue, Xiange, and Jianta Villages, examining issues such as eco-tourism, cultural heritage, community branding, and village-enterprise collaboration.
In October 2024, the project partnered with Linyu Community (a rural community under Chaoyang Lake Town in Pujiang) and co-created two design interventions with villagers and local officials: the “Lakeside Night Talks” deliberation platform and the “Governance Growth Wall” mechanism. Design methods were embedded into deliberative democratic processes, functioning as a catalyst to support the proactive actions of community staff and residents. These interventions contributed to the development of local self-governance. The case offers a transdisciplinary example of how design can be embedded in public sector innovation. Outputs are currently being developed into policy briefs and academic publications to inform broader rural development agendas.
Project Impact
Some of the project’s co-creation outcomes have been incorporated into Pujiang County’s rural development policies. Linyu Community has become a pilot site and is now recognised as a county-level model for multi-stakeholder co-governance.
The community has continued to develop the “Lakeside Night Talks” (participatory design + deliberative democracy meetings) and the “Governance Growth Wall” (participatory design + deliberative democracy mechanisms), significantly increasing resident participation and local autonomy. A new collaborative model involving “community + professionals + residents” has emerged. Within six months, the community mobilised 11,000 RMB in resident donations and leveraged 200,000 RMB in additional funding to support street renovations, public squares, and co-governance infrastructure. Volunteer numbers grew from 7 to over 200, and residents organised more than 20 self-initiated cleaning and service activities.
Cultural outputs include local song creation, vision planning, and co-designed cultural products that strengthened identity and community cohesion. The project has received strong recognition from county authorities and has been presented as a model in various governmental and academic platforms. It highlights the potential of service design to drive innovative grassroots governance in rural China.
Team:
Ziwei Lin (PhD student)
Supervisors: Dr. Hena Ali, Dr. Lara Salinas, Prof. Alison Prendiville
Partners
Linyu Community, Pujiang County Government
Dates
August 2024 – Present (Ongoing)
Funder
Pujiang County Government, Chengdu
UAL Team
Ziwei Lin, Hao Li, Ruiqi Yao, Aiyu Zuo
Publications
Papers – In progress.
White Paper: Community Development Governance and Social Innovation in Chengdu – Exploring Pujiang County’s Experience
Links
Community Co-Creation in Rural China (web under development)
Service Futures Lab 