Abstract
This track aims to explore empowerment as the primary focus of design for social change, and not merely a side effect or an outcome of design activity. While plenty of studies evidence empowerment through design, a more nuanced discussion on the ways in which empowerment by design is planned, achieved and articulated, how and what kind of empowerment is being facilitated through design projects is timely and necessary. These discussions are essential for introducing a critical perspective currently absent in the articulation of empowerment within design for social change. In the design literature, strong voices have emerged advocating for deeper awareness and accountability to address biases, privileges and positionality of designers, uncovering the ‘dark’ and unintended consequences arising from the noble intentions of empowerment in social design interventions, and mapping the interconnected dimensions, entanglements and power relations that emerge in ‘experts–diffuse’ design settings. In this track, contributions from interdisciplinary design research and practice informed by political theories of power, and/or by disciplines such as development studies, community organizing, and community psychology that can broaden and deepen current articulations of design for empowerment and social change are welcome. Suggested topics include: Explorations on how theories of power and empowerment inform design projects and practice; Theory-informed critical tools for power analysis used in design; Methodologies that facilitate discussions on power and empowerment in design projects; Methods and tools for elicitation of individual stories and collective narratives of ‘change and empowerment’ in design; Explorations of tensions and dilemmas of politically engaged design.
Keywords
Design for Empowerment; Power Analysis; Design Politics; Narratives; Design Projects
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2024.140
Citation
Santamaria, L., and Kuzmina, K. (2024) Design For Empowerment, in Gray, C., Ciliotta Chehade, E., Hekkert, P., Forlano, L., Ciuccarelli, P., Lloyd, P. (eds.), DRS2024: Boston, 23–28 June, Boston, USA. https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2024.140
Creative Commons License
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Conference Track
Research Paper
Included in
Design For Empowerment
This track aims to explore empowerment as the primary focus of design for social change, and not merely a side effect or an outcome of design activity. While plenty of studies evidence empowerment through design, a more nuanced discussion on the ways in which empowerment by design is planned, achieved and articulated, how and what kind of empowerment is being facilitated through design projects is timely and necessary. These discussions are essential for introducing a critical perspective currently absent in the articulation of empowerment within design for social change. In the design literature, strong voices have emerged advocating for deeper awareness and accountability to address biases, privileges and positionality of designers, uncovering the ‘dark’ and unintended consequences arising from the noble intentions of empowerment in social design interventions, and mapping the interconnected dimensions, entanglements and power relations that emerge in ‘experts–diffuse’ design settings. In this track, contributions from interdisciplinary design research and practice informed by political theories of power, and/or by disciplines such as development studies, community organizing, and community psychology that can broaden and deepen current articulations of design for empowerment and social change are welcome. Suggested topics include: Explorations on how theories of power and empowerment inform design projects and practice; Theory-informed critical tools for power analysis used in design; Methodologies that facilitate discussions on power and empowerment in design projects; Methods and tools for elicitation of individual stories and collective narratives of ‘change and empowerment’ in design; Explorations of tensions and dilemmas of politically engaged design.