The Social Design Reader [Hardcover]

The Social Design Readerexplores the ways in which design can be a catalyst for social change. Bringing together key texts of the last fifty years, editor Elizabeth Resnick traces the emergence of the notion of socially responsible design. This volume represents the authentic voices of the thinkers, writers and designers who are helping to build a 'canon' of informed literature which documents the development of the discipline.

The Social Design Readeris divided into three parts.Section 1: Making a Standincludes an introduction to the term 'social design' and features papers which explore its historical underpinnings.Section 2: Creating the Futuredocuments the emergence of social design as a concept, as a nascent field of study, and subsequently as a rapidly developing professional discipline, andSection 3: A Sea Changeis made up of papers acknowledging social design as a firmly established practice.

Contextualising section introductions are provided to aid readers in understanding the original source material, while summary boxes clearly articulate how each text fits with the larger milieu of social design theory, methods, and practice.

This is a powerful and timely survey of the social design territory and its evolution in the past few decades. Resnick provides an insightful overview of the ways in which design is addressing some of the most pressing issues facing us in the 21st century. Essential reading. Terry Irwin, Head of the School of Design at Carnegie Mellon University, USA

One of the most compelling design compendiums to emerge since theLooking Closerseries! Resnick's selection of essays, both historical and contemporary, offers astute and critical discussions about the transformative potential of socially responsible design. This timely book makes for essential rel3h