Design as Participation Catalyst in Addressing Marine Debris Challenges

The global marine debris problem necessitates collaboration among various stakeholders, including government agencies, scientists, industries, and local communities. While various approaches to addressing marine debris challenges exist across different sectors, research on design-led methods for facilitating cross-sectoral collaboration remains limited, particularly in comparative multi-site contexts. This study addresses this gap by examining six years of design-led programs across three Japanese municipalities (Zushi City, Shikokuchuo City, and Nagasaki Prefecture). The research explores the question: how do prototyping and visualization elements influence stakeholder participation and problem recognition across different regional contexts? Through interviews with administrative officers and comparative analysis, the study presents three workshop collaboration structures where designers function as catalysts: Integration Catalytic Function (facilitating collaborative ideation and knowledge sharing among diverse participants), Knowledge Integration Catalytic Function (enabling iterative solution refinement through research and field expertise integration), and Communication Catalytic Function (promoting environmental interest through research communication and public engagement). Science communication elements—including citizen science activities and science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM)-based educational programs—were incorporated as contextual facilitation tools across implementation sites, suggesting potential contributions to participant engagement and environmental understanding. Results demonstrate that design-led approaches enabled collaborative solution development across diverse stakeholder groups, with particular effectiveness in engaging younger participants in environmental problem-solving. However, effective implementation requires understanding regional characteristics, addressing administrative constraints, and building sustainable operational frameworks.