Over the later years, there has been an increased interest in participatory design in developing countries. The talk will start with an overview of what is already known in the relationship between developmental research and participatory design. The later part concentrates on issues that has been underplayed so far in this discourse. The first issue is the difference in scale and scope between participatory design and participatory development. The second issue is the complicated relations between PD as a research method and a method of practice on the one hand, and on participatory development as a method of professionals. The third is the issue of outsourcing of technique and control. Lastly, I will provide a brief exposure over the broad, interdisciplinary issue of participation itself, and the emerging overview of the perhaps universal prevalence of participation.