OUR MISSION IS TO INSPIRE AND EMPOWER COMMUNITY-DRIVEN SOCIAL IMPACT DESIGN

Collectif Etc.

Is there an alternative to a top down, hierarchical civic design process? Collectif Etc is a French design collective that challenges top down, hierarchical civic design. All stakeholders, from experts to the citizens themselves have a role—and a voice.

Is there an alternative to a top down, hierarchical civic design process?

For playground Wikado discarded rotor blades are used to create a mazelike space with a panna court in the center, placed on the existing concrete circle. Image Credit: Denis Guzzo

Superuse Studios

Can a “blue” economy be created where one business' waste is raw materials for another? Rotterdam based Superuse Studios is at the leading edge of ecological thought. Their work pioneers ideas around an economy where the waste of one business becomes raw materials for another.

Can a “blue” economy be created where one business' waste is raw materials for another?

EXYZT

Can Design Reclaim Public Space? EXYZT was a European multidisciplinary design collective that broke extraordinary ground in challenging traditional notions of how public space can be organized.

Can Design Reclaim Public Space?

Hughes courtyard. Image Credit: Adrian Vasile

Jonathan Kirschenfeld

Can excellent design be for everyone? Jonathan Kirschenfeld Architect PC has designed numerous supportive housing projects in New York, each combining housing with social services intended to help residents transcend chronic homelessness.

Can excellent design be for everyone?

Aprovecho Research Center

Are open source, global standards for clean, efficient cook stoves possible? Cooking with wood and charcoal causes health and climate challenges. US based Aprovecho pioneers designs for clean, efficient stoves and develops open source technology and testing used around the globe.

Are open source, global standards for clean, efficient cook stoves possible?

Podcasts

Social Design Insights podcast. Conversations with the leading voices of the social design movement.

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Videos

Short, inspiring films about social design pioneers around the globe.

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Curious?

What are the most urgent questions in the social design movement?

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Curry Stone Design Collaborative (CSDC) is an architecture and design studio that works alongside diverse communities in identifying and addressing their collective needs for an improved built environment through participatory planning, community-driven design and architecture, advocacy and consultation.

CSDC believes that in a world where social, economic and political inequalities manifest themselves into inequalities of built spaces, thoughtfully designed, safe and functional spaces are vital for robust communities and individual flourishing.

Learn more about CSDC and our process of community driven social design here.

Social Design Insights is a weekly podcast of conversations with leading designers who discuss innovative projects and practices that use design to address pressing social justice issues.

Listen to the latest episode of Social Design Insights here.

Jockin Arputham dedicated his life to working with slum dwellers to build representative organizations into powerful partnerships with governments and international agencies for the betterment of urban living.

Mr. Jockin Arputham

We are saddened to learn of the passing of our dear friend, colleague and incredible humanitarian Mr. Jockin Arputham.

Jockin dedicated his life to working with slum dwellers to build representative organizations into powerful partnerships with governments and international agencies for the betterment of urban living. Arputham was the president of the National Slum Dwellers Federation which he founded in the 70s and of Slum Dwellers International which is now a network of slum and shack dweller organizations and federations from over twenty countries across the world.

The National Slum Dwellers Federation works closely with Mahila Milan, a collective of savings groups formed by homeless women and women living in slums across India, and with SPARC, a Mumbai-based NGO that was awarded the Curry Stone Design Prize for their instrumental work in supporting tens of thousands of the urban poor access housing and sanitation throughout India.

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