Fonseca Braga, M., M. C. van Amstel, F., and Perez, D. (2024) Social Design at the Brink: Hopes and Fears., in Gray, C., Hekkert, P ., Forlano, L., Ciuccarelli, P . (eds.), DRS2024: Boston, 23–28 June, Boston, USA. https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2024.1538
Abstract: This hybrid conversation aimed to creatively explore and define the current and future roles and challenges of social design and designers in promoting positive societal changes. Our approach was inspired by Paulo Freire’s culture circles, a conversation method in which images are displayed and decoded through a discussion. We aimed to critically explore and analyse the role of social design and designers in light of the contradictions of our modern societies involving, for instance, democracy threats and political polarisation, social inequalities, artificial intelligence/ignorance, and immigration. This conversation also aimed to contribute to the development of a social design Special Interest Group (SIG) proposal for the Design Research Society.
Reflection paper
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Slides
Generative images
These four images conveyed the conversation themes without any label or explanation. Participants had to give meaning to them and connect what they saw to social design hopes and fears. The reflection paper above contains an analysis of the conversation.
