Current research literature on intangible cultural heritage (ICH), conservation, and development increasingly acknowledges that ICH has meaning for multiple stakeholders and is served best by integrating them into conservation processes. This article explores participatory design and its methods and tools for ICH purposes because they seem to provide promising approaches for keeping ICH vital in the traditional cultural locations and settings, as well as in the diasporas. Following the introduction, the second part of the article explores the role of design when preserving and promoting intangible cultural heritage (ICH) in theory by reviewing the literature on ICH management, participatory design, and participatory preservation projects. The third part applies findings from part 2 in a participatory design project on ICH preservation in the diaspora community of Uyghurs in Norway. The conclusion in part 4 discusses learning experiences on combining design research and practice in a master's course. The goal of the project was to design a concept, that displays, disseminates, and connects Uyghur culture internally amongst the people in the diaspora as well as mediate Uyghur ICH to people in the Norwegian society. Findings of both the theoretical study and the project indicate that the sustainability of ICH preservation depends on that living heritage is kept alive. For this to happen, ICH must be allowed to transform according to the time and place of the culture bearers. This kind of transformation is especially significant for diaspora cultures.