The economic, technological, social and political systems are changing; new relationships are developing between people and things. The social design research programme addresses these changes. The programme will develop new models, strategies, and products for this new reality. We will therefore be studying the encounter between people and design, in order to improve the quality of everyday life.
Design has a significant influence on human behaviour, emotional responses, and sensory experiences. We believe that design and designers can play a decisive role in the development and transformation of society. The social designer views design as a means to inspire society to come to a creative democracy by using critical models (of thinking). Social design will connect human needs to the real needs of our times. Meaningful social design is an answer to these questions.
The programme’s research output will range from product design to system design. We will analyse systems and environments, and formulate scenarios, prototypes and models that will fit in with the context for which they are intended.
Within this research programme the analytical and the emotional approach are equally important. Rational and irrational aspects, cognitive and intuitive knowledge, scientific and design approaches will be integrated into the design process. The design process will be iterative, but the act of creating will mainly inform the thought process and focus the design process.
Within this research programme students will develop the qualities and the personal methodology, which they will need in order to perform as a designer in our fast-changing society.
Programme leader: Jan Boelen
Team
In 2011-12 the following mentors are involved in the programme:
Jan Boelen (artistic director of Z33-house for Contemporary Art), Dick van Hoff (designer),Thomas Lommee (designer), Rianne Makkink (architect and designer), Liesbeth Huybrechts (theoretician), Aldo Bakker (designer), and others.
Team history
Over the past few years the following people have been involved in this Research programme:
Lucy Orta (artist), Satyendra Pakhalé (designer),Erna Beumers (anthropologist and africanist), Dick van Hoff (designer),Jan Boelen (artistic director of Z33-house for Contemporary Art) Bas Raijmakers (theoretician), Aldo Bakker (designer), and others.