It is difficult enough sorting out roles and relationships among the two we have ordinarily without the compounded complications caused by additional participants in the conception of new life. In participatory design every group that is affected by a new product or system has a role in its design and development. The connection with multiple sexes is a matter of heritage. In our bisexual world, each organism carries the genes of its two parents. In the world of participatory design a new system bears the heritage of as many parents as there are groups involved in the design process.
Participatory design contrasts sharply with more traditional design processes.
The role and power differences between the expert designers and the inexpert users are clear and viewed similarly on both sides. Users know little of the technical language spoken by the system designers, ignorance of this jargon adding to whatever intimidation they may already feel. After interviewing representative users, the designers go away to their designers' place and develop a version of the product. This is then brought back to the users for their reaction. Cycles of prototype testing and revision continue as long as the designers and their employers have patience and budget for it.