Redesigning Resilience: Participatory Design and the Decision Pipeline for Infectious Disease Emergencies in England
Name
smith-cs143-sb11-dusp-2026-thesis.pdf
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1.74 MB
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6a985441d5a2c6fe4223e0c928c8c2fc
Author(s)
Smith, Chloe
Advisor(s)
Steil, Justin
Date Issued
May 2026
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
The United Kingdom’s pre-pandemic reputation as a global leader in preparedness was built on a centralised governance model that concentrated decision-making power within an isolated bubble of experts in Central London. However, the response to COVID-19 revealed that a decision pipeline stripped of the public’s diverse lived experience fails to navigate the complex inequalities of a real-world emergency. Whilst post-pandemic inquiries highlight an urgent need for public involvement, few strategies exist to move beyond tokenistic engagement. Using participatory design (PD) as a theoretical framework, this paper analyses national policy documents, existing literature, and local case studies to demonstrate how PD can bridge this gap. Specifically, this thesis maps structural ‘participation deficits’ in the decision-making pipeline, identifies opportunities for meaningful public collaboration, and offers practical policy recommendations for Local Resilience Forums (LRFs) and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) to create sustained public participation.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Urban Studies and Planning
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