Why design matters in local business commoning

Abstract

The role of design is vital in facilitating the collaborative activities among various stakeholders in "commoning". Commoning local businesses can lead to the revitalization of a local economy with the local residents generating both commercial and social benefits. However, commoning in general is geared toward creating social benefits. As such, the existing model of commoning is not suitable for local business commoning. The few existing cases of local business commoning show that residents and proprietors benefit from exchanging resources based on their needs, but these exchanges tend to take place in ad-hoc and/or one-off ways. Therefore, this research aims to identify the specific roles that design plays in facilitating and sustaining local business commoning. 32 local business commoning cases were analysed through thematic analysis from which the composition of local business commoning and the roles of design were established. The research found 32 components of local business commoning related to which eight specific roles of design peculiar to local business commoning were found. Based on the findings, design implications are discussed for facilitating local business commoning in ways that local businesses, in partnership with the local community, can effectively generate both commercial and social benefits. The significance of this research lies in the provision of a foundation for devising design strategies for effective local business commoning, strengthening the reciprocal relationship between the local businesses and residents.