When people think of designers, their minds usually go toward visual and/or tangible creative pursuits. Graphic designer, fashion designer, interior designer, etc. However, the world of design is expansive and multidimensional. It is not just artists or architects. There are product designers, UX (user experience) designers, service designers, human-centered designers, and so many more. 

Social design is…

A broad field and includes all those who use design to: create social change; help solve complex social problems; design systems and social services; advocate and activate; and build projects, programs, and products. Some think of social design as only those who work at system levels but I have a broader definition that is more inclusive: anyone who engages curiosity, creativity, and strategy in service of others.

Social design is human-centered, collaborative, process-oriented, and systems-focused.

• We center those we service, designing with and not for people.

• We collaborate with various stakeholders, including those benefiting from the service, product, etc. We call this process co-designing, but it should be noted this process is not always true to word. New Zealand designer, Emma Blomkamp, has an excellent article on the differing forms of co-design (and other resources).

• We recognize that the process, not just the outcome, is important and attention is paid to inclusivity, exploration, and the piloting of new ideas.

• We have a lens on how our work fits into systemic change, cultural shifts, and larger social justice movements. 

The site Make:Iterate has great information on social design, including principles and case studies (one with the architectural firm MASS Design Group based in the US and Rwanda). 

As a social designer…

I (specifically) work at organizational and program levels. In my current role as Design Director at an international NGO, I oversee a team that specializes in curriculum development, co-design, training, and innovation. We work with our various country teams to build curricula around our core model, prototype new ideas with our community-based design fellows, train our partners on facilitation skills and content material, and turn learnings into action steps. We support other teams and partners based in five countries, each with a different cultural context. 

For example: Two of our key goals and activities over the past year have been putting part of our training into a learning management system (LMS) so that material can be accessed through a digital platform (on a tablet/phone). The other key activity has been engaging new partners and consultants to take our core curriculum and integrate climate-resilient practices and conservation-focused activities. Both of these are based on user (community members) needs and systems-level changes (access to devices and data; increasing shocks due to climate change). 

Our work focuses on livelihoods, social cohesion, and climate resiliency; and we keep our attention on our communities, partners, internal teams, country policies, funder initiatives and priorities, and system-level changing landscapes that we can use as windows of opportunity.

As a social designer, I have my ears and eyes open to what is happening on the ground, in the organization, across the industry, and beyond. Then I work with my team (and many others) to design new initiatives that will continue to meet needs across all levels.

social design must be interdisciplinary so we can approach social challenges from many directions and perspectives.

My background is in social work and international development but social designers come from various backgrounds. Social design is an incredible field and many professions intersect in the design space. We come from different educations and experiences, ethical mandates, and personal motivations, but we all seek to design innovative solutions to complex social challenges.