The reactive pattern towards social and cultural changes has meant that the problem-solving process has been privileged over the problem-framing stage. In other words; solution instead of prevention. In the same vein design has traditionally sought to find solutions that effectively address the needs of the user or consumer or client. 

This has not changed despite the elevation of the discipline to strategic and management levels. However we are reaching a point where the solution oriented approach is no longer singularly valid. Financial collapses, social injustice, overpopulation, amongst other global social problems, have accelerated the increase in the complexity of social organisations leading to a recorded decline in community cohesion and engagement. 

Nowadays design has to fight the status quo of the discipline that is “a hangover from the 1950’s”. Fifty years ago the concerns of design revolved around the improvement of services and products, while today it is more about design solutions that challenge people to think differently about themselves and their environment. 

The current state of societies and the environment has changed, keeps on changing and will change further more dramatically; we need to bear in mind that regardless of whether it is positive or negative, social change is something that will occur inevitably. It is our responsibility to steer it in a way that we can benefit from. 

The SocialDesignSite presents social design through projects from all over the world including Massive Change, Tourism Concerns, Findhorn Ecovillage, Bosch&Fjord, Retired Weapons, Illegal Beauty, Affro Reggae & Niki Dracoulis etc.