Vital materialism design methodologies for social change

Ricarda Bigolin
2015 Nordes   unpublished
Socially responsible design education is often grounded in case-based approaches. The problem with these approaches to socially responsible design is that they are usually based on a given set of design methods. Such methods respond to conditions of practice that are outmoded and don't respond to the contemporary presence of the image, and it's affect on materiality and the body in design practice. This is a problem in relation to evolving ecologies where new methods are needed to tackle
more » ... s that arise because of the change. In response, this work tries to develop alternative design methods for social change, particularly by exploring the relationships between image and vital material as a key variable. Through a series of experiments the work argues for the potential of material as foundational for creating changing within a system. This proposes engagement with material, body, space & image as a precursor to the linear and formalistic version of the design process. Design methods and evolving ecologies Design research in different aspects of socially responsible design aims to propose and give form to alternative ways of living (cf. Manzini 1994). More particularly in design education these endeavours may be conceptualized in the way Flemming does by emphasises " an ethically infused design brief a co-creative design process on-going value engineering pre-emptive engineering design validation through simulation on-line enabled integrated learning the use of well vetted rating systems" (Flemming, 2013). Typical examples are models for design to contribute to policy making, support working conditions, minimise environmental impact, reduce discrimination by promotional activism, storytelling, interventions and alternative products (cf. Davey et al, 2006).
doi:10.21606/nordes.2015.041 fatcat:dqvgev44e5avdjcofnp3jds3ei