Cross-Pollination

Design has become too important to be left to designers

As the definition of design broadens and starts touching each part of our lives, it becomes "too important to be left to designers”(Brown, 2009).

Wicked problems faced by our society, coupled with the high-paced technological advances, push designers to rethink our approach to shaping society—not as isolated transactions, but as transformative relationships. This undoubtedly brings social scientists into the conversation. However, as the two disciplines are vastly contradictory, certain challenges arise; which is where we come in.

By bridging the gaps between these two disciplines, we strive to cultivate enduring partnerships, encouraging ongoing dialogue that transcends disciplinary boundaries. Creating an environment conducive to shared learning, we hope to inspire participants to explore new avenues of research and design that can lead to innovative solutions to complex social issues, enhancing the impact of both disciplines in the process. Through this collaborative effort, we envision a future where design and social science merge to create interventions that are effective, enduring, and impactful.

Collaboration is Necessary

Social Design (SD) often disregards the wealth of knowledge accumulated in the social sciences (SS) and relies on superficial research. Conversely, SS influences the social world predominantly through discourse.

SD projects tend to function as standalone endeavors, disconnected from past and future work. In contrast, SS builds upon previous research, creating a rich but inaccessible body of knowledge that is useful primarily to experts. SD lacks thorough contextual research and grounded theory, while SS struggles to formulate tangible solutions. Although these disciplines can complement each other, attempts to combine them have been limited due to their fundamentally different approaches.

The workshop is designed to foster understanding, respect, and collaboration between SD and SS, helping each to overcome its limitations. By incorporating SS methodologies and grounding design in a robust understanding of social structures, SD can produce work that endures and can be built upon by future designers. SS can benefit from SD's ability to develop speculative research and tangible solutions.

Let's be uncomfortable together

The workshop is structured as an interactive and hands-on experience comprising several components. It begins with an introductory session where participants can learn about the core principles of both SD and SS, laying the groundwork for effective collaboration. Following this, a speed dating exercise encourages participants to pair up — one from the SD community and one from SS — to discuss and ideate interventions based on the social scientist's research paper. The ideation process will include iterative cycles of reflections, incorporating process facilitation cards that guide discussions and brainstorming sessions. The ultimate goal is to produce tangible interventions that are informed by robust research.

The ideal audience includes social scientists, designers, and researchers. Participation from both disciplines is crucial to fostering a vibrant atmosphere for collaboration, with an emphasis on inviting individuals who are invested in understanding and improving social structures through innovation and design. Fill out the form to help us ensure smooth collaboration in each session, and join us in this exciting experiment!