HSOC-206A: Design for Social Innovation

Design for Social Innovation. Design for Social Impact. Public Interest Design. Social Design. Design for Good. Design for Social Good. All of these terms have been used (sometimes interchangeably) to refer to design that makes society better. But how does Design for Social Innovation (or whatever we call it!) actually happen? What are some roles designers might inhabit when enacting social change? Who might designers need to work with, and how might they work differently when designing with a socially-conscious intent? In Design for Social Innovation, we will trace the histories, theories, and practices necessary for a foundational knowledge of the space. Resources will be drawn from historians, cultural theorists, public figures, and, of course, designers themselves. Real-world case studies of social innovation design projects from around the globe and right here at ArtCenter will be centered in our weekly analysis, yielding important insights regarding successes and failures. Students will leave this class with an understanding of what questions to ask, what methods to pull from, and who to seek out when working on projects intended to lead us to a sustainable, equitable and ethical future.