Social Design

I have been inundated with new talk of Social Design and how designers need to decide if they are going to partake in this new transition or hold on to traditional applications of the profession. Lets first define what Social Design is and how it is important.

In general terms, it is the design of products and services. In the newer terminology, it is “the creation of social reality; design of the social world”. As the world progresses more and more into the virtual aspects of semi-reality (the internet), it becomes more of a responsibility of the visual communicator to produce work that improves the condition of the person it is targeting. Proper communication changes and solves problems rather than just promoting material goods. It is also designing for needs rather than wants. In this era, we have resources that reach every corner of the world. We are no longer stuck in our own “bubble” and are capable of finding solutions to issues anywhere.

It seems to be that an interactive setting is more dominant than a classic competitive situation. Designers and design groups benefit in achieving goals when working together to solve difficult tasks. Focusing on resources and capabilities is an attribute in the process of Social Design.

In order to put in motion a good implementation, it is pertinent to have three aspects working together. Communication, the environment and product development must all work hand-in-hand in order to achieve the best possible solutions for whatever issue is being worked with. This kind of thinking allows other types of professions to come together and express and expose what needs to be changed, and how to go about doing that. It’s not just the designer that channels their talents through this, artists, psychologists, philosophers, etc. can all target their work towards this one cause and (dare I say) movement in shaping the way we live, work and think.

{more later … }