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Design with society: why socially responsive design is good enough

This peer-reviewed article presents Socially Responsive Design (SRvD) as a significant new, research-intensive approach distinct from Socially Responsible Design. It offers a contexualisation of previous accounts of socially engaged design, including those exemplified in the other contributions to the journal special issue in which it appears (guest co-edited by Thorpe). The paper proposes new ways of understanding and addressing multiple actors and conflicting design agendas within design processes. It identifies and reviews problems with collaboration and agency in social design and design-led social innovation. Partly drawing upon Thorpe’s project experiences, it describes a practice-led approach to SRvD. The work led directly to Thorpe’s establishment and leadership of the UAL DESIS Lab and an award from the AHRC to Thorpe to set up a UK DESIS Network (£34,000, December 2012).

DESIS is a world-wide association based in centres of HE researching, practicing and teaching Design for Social Innovation and Sustainability.