Participation is a key theoretical and methodological aspect at the nexus of tensions between design as professional practice and design in community settings. In this article, we navigate some of these tensions by thinking with a case of community-based co-design in Colombia. We build on the work of participatory design scholars to surface the challenges posed by participation when dealing with design's critical examination, and the need for new frameworks for theory and practice, especially when working with historically underrepresented populations. Using narrative inquiry, we centre and explore the methodology used by an 'experiencia comunitaria' (communal experience) in Colombia: the 'Saber y Vida' programme. We highlight three key aspects of the programme's propositions: (1) identity as an anchor to participation; (2) symbolic language as a device mediating between individuals and communities; and (3) dignity as a pre-condition to participation. We end by reflecting on how these features are in tension and resonance with current design theory and practice.