Beyond Co-Design Idealism: A Conceptual Framework for Participatory UX in Development Contexts

Participatory design is widely embraced in development and humanitarian contexts as a pathway to inclusion and empowerment. Yet in practice, participatory UX is often constrained by institutional timelines, cultural misalignments, and symbolic implementation. This conceptual paper critically examines co-design idealism and reframes participation as a negotiated, relational, and context-dependent process. Through a synthesis of interdisciplinary literature, it identifies five recurring tensions that limit participatory UX: (1) ethical and emotional labor in facilitation, (2) structural constraints and donor priorities, (3) epistemological divergence, (4) power and positionality, and (5) symbolic versus substantive participation. Drawing on critical UX, postcolonial HCI, and design justice, the paper offers a reflective framework for more ethically grounded and situated practice. Rather than proposing universal solutions, it invites UX practitioners and researchers to move beyond checkbox participation—toward culturally resonant, reciprocal, and impact-driven engagement.