The emergent role of design as a mediating force in socio-cultural transformation

This paper considers the role of the designer as a mediator in planning and policy delivery. It discusses the implications for a definition of design arising from a doctoral research project that examines design’s contribution to community development. Design continues to expand into new territories of practice, seeking to reframe its purpose as a catalyst for organisational innovation and systemic transformation. Fry (2009) describes the potential of design as a “pathfinding means to sustain action countering the unsustainable while also creating more viable futures.” Co-design, service design and transformation design are terms that describe new approaches within design that have been applied to complex social issues such as health, inequality, crime and social exclusion (Lee, Y., Cassim, J. 2009). However, support of action on such issues has largely been explored through the use of creative methods applied through the design process. If design is to effectively assist sustained and meaningful transformation, it must develop an understanding of practice suited to social organisation. This paper asserts that if design is to realise its potential as a catalyst for behavioural change, cultural re-orientation and social innovation then it is crucial to first re-design design. The paper discusses findings from a field case study conducted in Clackmannanshire, a region of Central Scotland. Local community planning objectives on issues related to health and wellbeing was used as an anchor from which to navigate beyond conventional boundaries and explore actions. In essence: the project was rooted in a real-world policy context, but unconstrained in its methods or scope. The objectives were two-fold: to understand issues relating to effective planning and delivery, and to recognise the transferable attributes of design practice in such a context. The paper argues that an effective design intervention must focus less on the objective of problem solving and more on mediation as a method for design in its new age. Conceptualising design practice with social mediation at its core has profound implications for the required skills of the design practitioner. It therefore seems reasonable that engagement with new challenges and contexts of practice will require fresh approaches to education and training. The paper concludes by identifying some policy implications for design education and practice. This work is copyright of EAD9, University of Porto, Portugal and is reproduced here with their kind permission.