Social Design
Practices and Practicioners
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Design for the Base/Bottom of the Pyramid (Bop)


Design for the Base/Bottom of the Pyramid (Bop)

Use of design, collaborative and participatory methods human centered approach and sustainability concerns to create solutions to meet the needs and improve health, income and living conditions of individuals and communities living in absolute poverty, at the base of the (economic) pyramid – the estimated 4-billion people living on incomes less than $4/day (Whitney & Kelkar 2004).

Who and Where

D-REV
U.S.A.~ India, Haiti, Nepal, Ecuador, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Btswana, Bangladesh, Iraq
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Base of the Pyramid Program, Faculty of Industrial Design Engeneering, TU Delft
The Netherlands~ Botswana, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Madagascar, Tanzania, Vietnam

Design for the Base of the Pyramid Research, Institute of Design ITT
U.S.A.~ India, U.S.A.

D-Lab, MIT
U.S.A.~ Brazil, Cambodia, El Salvador, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Nicaragua, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia

Process
Design, Human centered, Sustainability
Purpose
to create . to meet . to improve
Problem
- individuals and communities living in absolute poverty, at the base of the (economical) pyramid.

Humanitarian Design

Humanitarian Design

Use of design, collaborative and participatory methods and human centered approach to create solutions to support or assist individuals lacking basic human needs and rights – food, shelter, water, electric power, sanitation, education, health etc – with all actors and bodies involved in emergency humanitarian aid and development in contexts of extreme poverty, devastation caused by war or natural disasters (Nussbaum 2010; Cary & Meron 2013).

Who and Where

Humanitarian Design Bureau
France


Little Sun
Germany~ Burundi, Ethiopia, E.U., Japan, Kenya, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, U.S.A., Zimbabwe

Razón Social
Mexico

Designers without borders
Uganda, U.S.A.~ Cameroun, South Africa, Uganda, U.S.A.

Process
Design, Collaborative Participative, Human centered
Purpose
to create . to support . to assist
Problem
- individuals lacking basic human needs and rights;
- emergency humanitarian aid and development;
- contexts of extreme poverty, devastation caused by war or natural disasters.

Design as Development Aid

Design as Development Aid

Use of design, collaborative and participatory methods to develop solutions to improve living conditions, business development, long-term aid and emergency relief in socially and economically disadvantage communities. Works in collaboration with local organizations, authorities, businesses and civil society seeking to transfer knowledge and strengthen local competence and ability to design their own solutions (Norsk Form 2001).

Process
Design, Collaborative Participative
Purpose
to develop . to improve
Problem
- socially and economically disadvantage communities.

Socially Responsible / Socially Responsive Design

Socially Responsible / Socially Responsive Design

Use of design, collaborative and participatory methods and human centered approach to create solutions to support or assist individuals lacking basic human needs and rights – food, shelter, water, electric power, sanitation, education, health etc – with all actors and bodies involved in emergency humanitarian aid and development in contexts of extreme poverty, devastation caused by war or natural disasters (Nussbaum 2010; Cary & Meron 2013).

Who and Where

Maria Loschiavo dos Santos
Brazil

Superflex
Denmark ~ Tanzania, Denmark, Cambodia, Thailand, Tanzania, Mexico

Natalie Allen
U.S.A.

Matt Tomasulo
U.S.A.

Process
Design, Collaborative, Participative, Systemic view, Holistic view
Purpose
to contribute
Problem
- all individuals and organizations regardless of their incomes or position in society.

Design for Social Good

Design for Social Good

Use of design, design thinking, collaborative and participatory methods and a human centered approach to tackle big issues and create solutions to social problems contributing to the collective good or the welfare of society in general. This is also a generic term that identifies any design made with a social, environmental, cultural, educational purpose reinforcing it’s value for the common, public or social good (Cary & Meron, 2013).

Who and Where

Social Good Brasil
Brazil

Open IDEO
U.S.A.

BioLite
U.S.A.~ India, U.S.A.

Project M
U.S.A.

Process
Design, Design thinking, Collaborative, Human centered
Purpose
to tackle . to create . to contribute
Problem
- big issues and social problems.

Design for Social Change

Design for Social Change

Use of design, collaborative and participatory methods, human centered approach and sustainability concerns to drive, enable and accelerate positive change to social, economic, and ecological challenges working closely with organizations, government institutions, foundations, non-profits and corporations.

Who & Where

Worldstudio U.S.A.

Galewill U.S.A.

Catapult Design
U.S.A.~ Costa Rica, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, U.S.A.

Future
U.S.A.

Nutri Ventures
Portugal~ Portugal, U.S.A.

symbol !mpact Design for Social Change Workshop, School of Visual Arts, NY
U.S.A.

Process
Design, Collaborative Participative, Human centered, Sustainability
Purpose
to drive . to enable . to accelerate
Problem
- positive change to social, economic, and ecological challenges.

Design for Social Impact

Design for Social Impact

Use of design, design thinking, collaborative and participatory methods, human centered approach, sustainability concerns and systemic view to create and deliver innovative, sustainable, desirable and meaningful solutions that address and meet the needs of disadvantage communities catalyzing positive long-lasting change in people and their quality of life and can impact society’s most pressing issues. Also aims to attest and record the real impact of actions, solutions and the balance between the three levels of sustainability to demonstrate benefits, usefulness and value of design to collaborators, partners, sponsors and funders.

Who and Where

Design Impact
U.S.A., India~ India

Design that Matters
U.S.A.~ Brazil, Congo, India, Mali, Southeast Asia, Vietnam

Designers Accord
U.S.A.

Design for America
U.S.A.

Project H
U.S.A.

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Designmatters initiative, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA
U.S.A.~ Chile, Guatemala, India, Mexico, Peru, Kenya, Rwanda, U.S.A.

Process
Design, Design thinking, Participative, Sustainability, Human centered, Systemic
Purpose
to create . to deliver . to catalyse change . to impact . to attest . to record . to demonstrate
Problem
- needs of socially or economically disadvantage communities
- making design accessible

Design for Social Innovation

Design for Social Innovation

Use of design, design thinking, collaborative and participatory methods, human centered approach, sustainability concerns and systemic view to support organizations in both public and private sectors to develop new and effective solutions addressing the true needs and behaviours of disadvantage communities around the world, to create transformational change (innovation) in their everyday lives and positively impact the social systemic, global and complex challenges of our time.

Who and Where

IDEO
U.S.A.~ Cambodia, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Kenya, Mexico, Tanzania, Uganda, U.S.A., Zambia

Frog Design
U.S.A.~ India, Rwanda, U.S.A.

Remix
Portugal

Design Echos
Brazil

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d.school, Institute of Design, Stanford University
U.S.A.

MFA Design for Social Innovation, School of Visual Arts, NY
U.S.A.

Process
Design, Design thinking, Human centered, Collaborative Participative, Sustainability, Systemic view
Purpose
to support . to develop . to create . to innovate . to impact
Problem
- public and private sector organizations
- needs and behaviours of disadvantage communities around the world
- social systemic, global and complex challenges of our time

Design for Social Innovation and Sustainability

Design for Social Innovation and Sustainability

Use of design, design thinking, collaborative and participatory methods, human centered approach, sustainability concerns, and systemic view to create, consolidate and replicate innovative and sustainable solutions that represent viable answers to complex social, environmental, cultural, political and economic challenges of the present, working with all actors, individuals and organizations to trigger large-scale sustainable changes and enable and promote new ways of living.

Who and Where

DESIS Network (Design for Social Innovation towards Sustainability)
Australia, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Denmark, France, India, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, South Korea, Sweden, Turkey, U.K., U.S.A.

Process
Design, Design thinking, Human centered, Collaborative Participative, Sustainability, Systemic
Purpose
to create . to consolidate . to replicate . to trigger . to enable . to promote
Problem
- solutions that represent viable answers to complex social, environmental, cultural, political and economic challenges of the present.

Social Economic Environmental Design

Social Economic Environmental Design

Use of design, collaborative and participatory methods and sustainability concerns to achieve social, ecological and economic innovation addressing the most complex and critical needs of communities and individuals, while enabling them to shape their world for the better promoting a culture of civic responsibility, to catalyze positive change for humanity.

Who and Where

SEED Network
U.S.A.~ Uganda, U.S.A.

Living Principles
U.S.A.

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Institute without Boundaries, George Brown College, Toronto
Canada~ Canada, Chile, Ireland

Process
Design, Design Thinking, Sustainability, Systemic view, Holistic view
Purpose
to enable . to promote . to catalyse
Problem
- the most complex and critical needs of communities and individuals
- civic responsibility

Design Útil / Useful Design

Design Útil / Useful Design

Following the notion of design as a more useful profession to society, this practice uses design,collaborative and participatory methods, holistic view and sustainability concerns to catalyze positive changes in all individuals and communities, especially those socially and economically disadvantaged, promoting citizenship, collaboration, self-esteem, enhancing capabilities, skills and preserving culture (Rosenbaum 2010; Rosenbaum 2013).

Who and Where

Rosenbaum
Brazil

Susana António
Portugal

Process
Design, Sustainability, Systemic view, Holistic view
Purpose
to catalyse change . to promote . to enhance
Problem
- all individuals and communities, especially those socially and economically disadvantaged.

Transformation Design

Transformation Design

Use of design, design thinking, collaborative and participatory methods, human centered approach, sustainability concerns and systemic and holistic view to support public and private sector organizations to create and deliver new and effective services and policies meeting the needs of citizens while addressing big and complex social issues, to transform lives, business, communities and the public sector for the better and enable, empower or activate people to participate and realize their potential in society.

Process
Design, Design Thinking, Collaborative, Participative, Human centered, Sustainability, Systemic view, Holistic view
Purpose
to support . to create . to deliver . to transform . to enable . to empower . to activate
Problem
- public and private sector organizations
- needs of citizens
- big and complex social issues

Design for Public Good

Design for Public Good

Use of design, design thinking, collaborative and participatory methods, human centered approach, sustainability concerns, systemic and holistic view to support and assist public sector institutions to better understand contexts, shape better decisions in governance and policy making and develop or deliver innovative, sustainable and resilient solutions that better serve the needs and connect with citizens, while addressing complex, sometimes global, challenges, and make environmental, social, cultural, financial and economical systemic change happen.

Who and Where

See Project
Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, Spain

Hatch & Bloom
Denmark

live|work
U.K.~ Brasil, Netherlands, Norway, U.K.

Design Wales
Wales

Helsinky Design Lab
Finland

Mindlab
Finland

Process
Design, Design Thinking, Collaborative Participative, Human centered, Sustainability, Systemic view, Holistic view
Purpose
to support . to assist . to shape . to develop . to deliver
Problem
- public sector institutions
- needs of citizens
- complex global issues