default Social Design Notes: Design Against the War Popular

Can design change the world? I don't pretend that social and political problems can be solved with graphics or technology, but tools, technologies, and techniques of communication can profoundly alter our relationship to the world, to power, and to each other. This Web log is a collection of notes on the built environment, graphic design, product design, architecture, the decisions we make, and the impact they have. It is an exploration and a work in progress. I’m still working on my definition of “Social Design,” but I’m inclined towards projects that:

• are affordable and sustainable
• are made of renewable materials
• use energy from renewable sources and increase energy efficiency
• reduce consumption and waste, are reusable or recyclable
• are produced and developed locally
• are universally accessible to people of all ages, abilities, and physical conditions
• are developed at the initiative and with the participation of the communities they serve
• facilitate mobility, communication, and participation in civic life
• decentralize political power and facilitate transparency and accountability.