Knowledge Base Repository
In addition to research papers, the Design Society is developing several valuable resources for those interested in the study of design. These include a repository of PhD theses, a library of case studies and transcripts of design activities, and an archive of our newsletters. Please note that these resources are accessible exclusively to Design Society members.
FROM ETHICS TO POLITICS: IF DESIGN IS PROBLEM SOLVING, WHAT THEN ARE THE PROBLEMS?
Oswald, David
Type:
Year:
2016
Editor:
Erik Bohemia, Ahmed Kovacevic, Lyndon Buck, Christian Tollestrup, Kaare Eriksen, Nis Ovesen
Author:
Series:
E&PDE
Institution:
Hochschule für Gestaltung Schwäbisch Gmünd
Section:
Ethics
Page(s):
620-625
ISBN:
978-1-904670-62-9
Abstract:
The great design movements in design history were, for the most part, guided by utopian, political, or
at least reformist aims. They combined the question of what today is called ‘material culture’ with the
more general question of how we want to live. Today, faced with the global challenge of creating sustainable
economies and societies, design has rediscovered its ethical, social and critical tradition.
However, due to their global nature, today’s problems have reached an unprecedented level of complexity
and inertia. These problems are deeply ingrained into global policies – and the chances to face
them are the highest when employing political means. As a consequence, if design aims to contribute
in these challenging domains, it has to conceive itself as political.
at least reformist aims. They combined the question of what today is called ‘material culture’ with the
more general question of how we want to live. Today, faced with the global challenge of creating sustainable
economies and societies, design has rediscovered its ethical, social and critical tradition.
However, due to their global nature, today’s problems have reached an unprecedented level of complexity
and inertia. These problems are deeply ingrained into global policies – and the chances to face
them are the highest when employing political means. As a consequence, if design aims to contribute
in these challenging domains, it has to conceive itself as political.
Keywords:
