A Curricular Case Study: Constructing the Essential Factors in “Social Design” Teaching

Abstract

This study explores an innovative teaching approach based on the concept of social design. Using, as its case study, a design education course called "Social Design," currently taught in universities, this study discusses the essential elements of social design courses, based on the three characteristics of social-design education: design practices, problem evaluation, and interdisciplinary cooperation. It concludes by showing that social-design education includes the following essential elements: 1) to train students to propose innovative solutions to problems; 2) to analyze problems comprehensively, on the scale of the socio-ecological-system; 3) to solve problems using interdisciplinary knowledge and understanding; 4) to include people who have experienced problems in the problem-solving process; 5) to ensure that students achieve reflective learning during the problem-solving process; and 6) to guide students in recognizing the "organic" nature of social design problems, in which levels of stakeholder participation affect problem-solving decisions, given that social systems are constantly changing.

Convergências entre Design Social e Design Centrado no Usuário: um estudo de casos em projetos acadêmicos de moda

“…o indivíduo e para a comunidade, considerando, em seu projeto, pessoas com deficiência e/ou com baixa renda, questões ambientais, entre outras questões relevantes(PAZMINO, 2007;CHENG;CHOU, 2019).O Design Social difere-se do design orientado para o mercado em seus objetivos. Os produtos e processos são pensados para produção em pequena escala, direcionados ao mercado local, com a maximização das funções práticas do artefato, que deve ser de baixo custo, visando a inclusão social(PAZMINO, 2007).…”