Yohei Kato is a community designer, trained in the field of community development, development studies, and information design. He is particularly interested in the dynamic process and methods of engaging with community to address various social issues. He has previously designed a youth development program in Bangladesh, led participatory design workshops in Japan, and conducted participatory action research with children and young people in the U.S. and India. Yohei received his B.A. in International Development from University of Tsukuba, Japan and his M.S. in Community Development from University of California, Davis. He is currently in the Ph.D. program in Architecture and Sustainable Design at Singapore University of Technology and Design.

Over the last few decades, Participatory Design (PD) has broadened its scope to engage with diverse people in designing tools, environment, businesses, and social institutions that aim to improve the lives of people. Due to widespread applications of PD and lack of clear definition of participation, the PD discipline lacks a systematic and robust methodology for evaluation of PD projects. Responding to this challenge, his research examines theories and praxis of assessing PD projects by reviewing empirical studies from the field of international development, public health, and PD. His research aims to introduce a mixed-methods approach to the evaluation of complex PD projects to capture its dynamic processes and often qualitative and intangible results.