Participatory design (PD) is a field that involves working directly with users and other stakeholders in the design of social systems, including computer systems that are part of human work. It challenges traditional assumptions about technology in workplaces, communities, homes, and social institutions. PD has gained significant attention as businesses face increased international competition and political changes. The field originated in Europe, particularly in the Scandinavian workplace democracy movement and in England. Strong labor unions and sociotechnical approaches have contributed to the development of PD. PD has been demonstrated in projects such as DEMOS, FLORENCE, and UTOPIA, and in international conferences such as IRIS and WG 9.1. The authors of this article provide a taxonomy of PD practices, organized into a visual space with three dimensions: time during the development life cycle, who participates with whom, and appropriate group size. This taxonomy aims to guide practitioners and dispel misunderstandings about PD, such as the belief that it is only applicable in Scandinavia or research environments. The article also highlights the importance of PD in diverse domains and its successful transfer from Scandinavian and research contexts to other areas. It discusses various issues within PD, including historical and intercultural analyses, the role of design, development, ethics, and politics in participatory practices, and the importance of communication through language or artifacts. The authors encourage readers to find commonalities among the articles and between the work reported here and their own practices, ethics, and actions. The article concludes with information about the guest editors and a list of recommended readings.Participatory design (PD) is a field that involves working directly with users and other stakeholders in the design of social systems, including computer systems that are part of human work. It challenges traditional assumptions about technology in workplaces, communities, homes, and social institutions. PD has gained significant attention as businesses face increased international competition and political changes. The field originated in Europe, particularly in the Scandinavian workplace democracy movement and in England. Strong labor unions and sociotechnical approaches have contributed to the development of PD. PD has been demonstrated in projects such as DEMOS, FLORENCE, and UTOPIA, and in international conferences such as IRIS and WG 9.1. The authors of this article provide a taxonomy of PD practices, organized into a visual space with three dimensions: time during the development life cycle, who participates with whom, and appropriate group size. This taxonomy aims to guide practitioners and dispel misunderstandings about PD, such as the belief that it is only applicable in Scandinavia or research environments. The article also highlights the importance of PD in diverse domains and its successful transfer from Scandinavian and research contexts to other areas. It discusses various issues within PD, including historical and intercultural analyses, the role of design, development, ethics, and politics in participatory practices, and the importance of communication through language or artifacts. The authors encourage readers to find commonalities among the articles and between the work reported here and their own practices, ethics, and actions. The article concludes with information about the guest editors and a list of recommended readings.