Jane Addams, Social Design, and Wicked Problems

Abstract

This chapter examines Jane Addams’s approach to wicked problems through the lens of social design, arguing that a shift in the conception and practice of design informed by the thought and practice of Addams can support efforts toward more ethical engagement with these problems. After exploring the role of design in wicked problems, the chapter traces Addams’s approach, highlighting the essential need for sustained engagement across diverse communities. In particular, the chapter highlights how she framed, explored, generated, prototyped, and—ultimately—cultivated tangible and valuable social designs in response to wicked problems. Strategies for designing responses to complex social challenges today are highlighted, including historic and geographic mapping, relational immersion, and iterative, incremental activism. The chapter concludes by suggesting the intentional integration of these processes can support social design efforts that more holistically and inclusively address wicked problems.