Social Design

This course is offered as a theme course under DfI Theme 2: Design for Societal Innovation.

Social Design addresses complex societal challenges that are deeply embedded within cultural, political, and economic systems. These challenges—such as poverty, biodiversity loss, and systemic discrimination—transcend the scope of conventional design approaches that focus on individual users or specific client needs. Addressing such issues necessitates a systemic perspective and an engagement with broader social structures, requiring designers to operate at the level of communities, institutions, and societies.

The course begins by situating social design within its historical and theoretical contexts. It explores the origins and multiple interpretations of social design, tracing its evolution as a field of inquiry and practice. Moving beyond the utilitarian framing of individuals as end-users, the course considers people as integral members of larger collectives—such as communities, networks, and cultures—whose values, behaviors, and practices are shaped by shared social realities.

Key theoretical constructs will be examined, including utopian design, molecular design, sociological design, and design for the common good. The course will also investigate emerging frameworks such as post-capitalist design, pluriversal and decolonial design, design anthropology, and culture-sensitive design, along with the scholarly discourses and critical perspectives that inform them.

The second part of the course is dedicated to examining the methodologies and practices of social design in contemporary contexts. It considers the roles social designers assume, the epistemological foundations of their work, and the competencies required for effective engagement in complex social environments.

A global and cross-cultural perspective will be emphasized throughout, drawing on the instructors' international experience, professional networks, and case studies from diverse geographical contexts. This approach aims to foster critical reflection on the situatedness of design practices and the plurality of design traditions across the world.

Note 1: This course is primarily theoretical in nature, with a strong emphasis on conceptual frameworks and critical discourse. Practical, hands-on applications will be addressed to a lesser extent.

Note 2: The instructors will contribute their expertise and professional experience in culture-sensitive design and design anthropology to enrich the course content and discussions.