Why Designers Need to Share What We Do
Designers: in order to show non-designers the real value we can contribute, advocate for our profession in a rapidly developing and changing world, and help build a better world in which more people are creative problem solvers…
- We have to articulate our profession in non-design terminology.
We have to be able to teach our profession to others.
Written by GOOD Community member Annie Wu in Business, Creativity and Social Design
A Community Effort to Be the First Climate-Resilient Block in Baltimore
- Jonathan Erwin wrote in Environment, Climate Change and Social Design
Ten years ago, the 2400 block of Jefferson Street was one of the deadliest in East Baltimore. Today, thanks to enormous efforts from neighbors, community groups, and local nonprofits, this block has become a positive model of grassroots urban renewal. Street and violent crimes have stabilized, drug markets have either shut down or moved elsewhere, and residents have taken back their block and a sense of community with it. But for these neighbors, improving the safety of their community isn’t enough, so the 2400 block of Jefferson Street is evolving again.
This time, this East Baltimore block is working to become the first climate resilient block in Baltimore.
Come Out and Play: The Joy of Novice Game Design
- Sara Cornish wrote in Social Design, Play and Gender Equity
Dodging a volley of magic spells, he leaps over a fallen teammate and finally reaches his enemy’s end zone. Once safely inside a hula hoop, he holds up the jagged half of the golden tablet. Victory is close, so he waves encouragingly to a girl also wearing an orange headband. She nods, meeting his resolve to lead their team to the win. Taking off at full sprint, she approaches his hoop and grabs the tablet. Arm in arm, they race back to their team’s side where the other half of the tablet safely rests. She holds up the golden tablet in an epic win of “Reverse the Curse,” conspicuous enough to draw cheers from the nearby crowds playing other newly invented games on the fields of Governor’s Island, New York City.
Come Out and Play is an annual showcase of games open to the public to play. Think Field Day for adults, but with a wild mix of technology-driven experiences, athletic challenges, and whimsical competitions.
Social Designers: Why Our Own Neighborhoods Need Us as Much as Sub-Saharan Africa
- julie kim wrote in San Francisco, Social Design and Cities
Social change is a complex, messy business. It takes a long time. We’re best positioned to affect long-term outcomes when we stay home and work within our own communities.
Many of you are already enmeshed in local design activism. But do we see our work as designers as a form of community service? If not, I think we should. Think of programs and service delivery models like soup kitchens, Americorps, trash pick-up days. These models, more than global humanitarian work, are most relevant for designers looking to work locally.
A Good Design Glossary to Decode the Jargon
- John Cary and Gilad Meron wrote in Social Design, Infographics and Social Impact
After last year’s Social Impact Design Summit, we began to work on one popular request: to compile a glossary of social impact design terminology. In the emerging field of social impact design, we’ve seen important discussions and efforts hamstrung, sidetracked, or misunderstood due to the lack of a unifying vocabulary. This glossary sheds light on the redundancy of certain words and phrases, and we hope it also sheds light on the fact that many leaders and practitioners are using different terms to describe almost identical processes and approaches. Despite arguments over “correct” terminology, we are all speaking the same language.
We’re eager to improve and expand this glossary, and welcome any and all corrections, edits, and additions. In particular, we ask for your help in identifying entities and individuals associated with each term as part of our larger effort to map the field. Please email glossary@publicinterestdesign.org. The glossary can also be viewed at publicinterestdesign.org/glossary.
Illustration by Jessica de Jesus
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