Social design and innovations – last wrap-up of conveners

Questions discussed in groups:

1. How could designers engage in the social / third sector? How to do well by doing good? Companies should be more socially oriented.
2. What in design forms values? How can design firms engage themselves in values? Inhibitors? What are designer’s values? Deriving some value from such activities?

• Social innovations: new design approach for designers.
  -> Need for cross-fertilization: but designers aren’t necessary social actors
• There is a role for the designer as a catalyst and facilitator (not a star designer) in processes. However, traditional training of designers isn’t up to these duties: different skills are needed in the project leading (group psychology, leading skills). As in most education systems the role of the designer as an individual genius is promoted.
• Designer can have an outsider’s value.
  Once a designer starts to design human systems it’s not about handicraft or art anymore: adopting the new architecture becomes really important.
• Even in the traditional design role they are trying to affect people’s behavior (use certain products, act in certain way): so actually the change isn’t so radical. But in social design the change doesn’t come through an object but through communication. Other factors are more important.
• This issue is also important among other groups – so it is not only about designers.
• Especially in social design designer shouldn’t be the ultimate leader but a servant for the people (s)he is designing for. Design can shift his/her role in planning roles.