Acknowledging tacit knowledge: Outlining participatory workshops in a human-centered design process

Abstract

The energy transition presents complex challenges that require multidisciplinary insights and innovative solutions. However, traditional research methods often overlook valuable tacit knowledge, hindering effective contributions from relevant social groups. To counter this, the inter- and transdisciplinary research project MEnergy – My energy transition, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, aims to create inclusive environments where the citizens’ perspective and experience is acknowledged, unlocked, and visualized. Based on the Social Construction of Technology (SCOT), the project aims to harness this knowledge, including gaps in knowledge, in analog, digital, and virtual communication formats to inform citizens about the energy transition and its technologies. This is done in three incremental design cycles over three years. This paper focuses on the first design cycle, which identifies participants' existing knowledge, attitudes, and emotions toward the energy transition. This is achieved in two consecutive cocreation workshops with different target groups. The participants' tacit knowledge and ability to imagine positive energy transition narratives is captured in the first workshop. Through storytelling, visualization, and collaborative ideation, participants articulate their tacit knowledge and provide insights based on their experience and expertise. Building on this, the second workshop is designed with modular interactive learning units to capture and increase the participants’ dimensions of knowledge (What can I do?) and willingness to act (What will I do?). Visual tools and collaborative techniques facilitate sharing and representation of tacit knowledge, improving the researchers’ and participants’ understanding of challenges and solutions. The data collected, both material artifacts and observation logs, is analyzed and mapped.The findings suggest an urgent need for low-threshold, local opportunities for citizens to learn about the potential of renewable energy. Furthermore, many citizens struggle to visualize a successful energy transition and have instead internalized narratives of sacrifice and prohibition. Here, scientists and policymakers are challenged not only to develop long-term sustainable solutions but also to communicate them in an accessible way.

Keywords: Human-centered design, Participatory research methods, Tacit knowledge

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1004550