Armani said:

Excellent piece. Very encouraging. These resources are on point too.

4:34 PM | April 15, 2009 PST (GMT - 8)

zh said:

"Design is no longer a one-way street. If the users who encounter your design don't add to the design's value in some way...Gone are the days in which a designer fights for causes by making an awareness poster or a book that informs people about an issue." This comment really resonates with me and is giving me much pause for thought. Thank you!

4:43 PM | April 22, 2009 PST (GMT - 8)

A. said:

Thanks for the links. I hadn't seen a few of them. I also recommend http://backspace.com/notes/ -- a long-running blog on social design and activism.

7:17 PM | April 22, 2009 PST (GMT - 8)

Magalie Pedrono said:

Thank you David for this post! Yeah it's true it's time for Change: Design has great tools to enable it and I'm glad that more and more designers are conscious of this! I also really enjoyed reading the Soft Spot's quote and especially the end: "The only way to make the world a better place is to invite and inspire everyone to work for it" Indeed, I think that the user has to be considered as a true actor in his environment and not just like a simple “consumer of better conceived products services” and this, in order to empower him to become aware of his own impact and become responsible by himself. This process can really increase the impact of the product or service created, because more than a sustainable creation, that is already good but most of the time, doesn't change the traditional habits; the product/service designed this way can, by its use, enable people to adopt a responsible behavior! And I deeply think that this should be the futur of traditional design (shaping things and services). I also like the idea of spreading the word about Social Design in its broadest sense: the creation of social reality! Like we say in the SocialDesignSite, every decision we make every day, has consequences on the world around us, and on the worlds of others. And in this sense we are all “social designers” of this world. Thank you also for including the project your resource list! All the best, Magalie

8:06 AM | April 23, 2009 PST (GMT - 8)

aiga xcd said:

Please add to the list of Organisations: AIGA Center for CrossCultural Design url= http://www.xcd.aiga.org

7:27 PM | April 23, 2009 PST (GMT - 8)

fff said:

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1:33 PM | April 24, 2009 PST (GMT - 8)

John Bielenberg said:

Thanks David. Applications for Project M are due soon. See www.projectmlab.com

9:57 PM | April 30, 2009 PST (GMT - 8)

Phillip said:

Thanks David for this thoughtful piece and the supporting resources. The quote referenced "Design is no longer a one-way street. If the users who encounter your design don't add to the design's value in some way, then you are doing something wrong. Gone are the days in which a designer fights for causes by making an awareness poster or a book that informs people about an issue. The only way to make the world a better place is to invite and inspire everyone to work for it" really makes one ponder...

10:37 PM | September 22, 2009 PST (GMT - 8)

Val said:

Great Resources

10:02 AM | September 23, 2009 PST (GMT - 8)

Sandra said:

Just stumbled upon this post. Great piece! Really makes you think a bit about the role designers should play. One other link I would like to add to the resource list is http://www.livingprinciples.net/

9:01 PM | October 25, 2009 PST (GMT - 8)

Dino said:

What a great piece. As designers we need to engage in more conversations like this. I'd like to add a few links for the resources. Design Action Collective http://designaction.org/ Sappi: Ideas that Matter http://www.sappi.com/ideasthatmatterNA/index.asp

9:12 PM | November 30, 2009 PST (GMT - 8)

Raul said:

A designer friend of mine passed this article to me the other day and I finally got the chance to read it and review all of the valuable resources. It would be great if this list could continue to grow. There are so many interesting things going on in design right now in regards to sustainability and social design. There should be more on design education in terms of the resource list.

11:26 PM | November 30, 2009 PST (GMT - 8)

Samuel said:

Given the recent tragedy in Haiti. This highlights the possibilities designers have to use their skills for the greater good so to speak. In the response effort there is a lot the design community could add to a cause/initiative as a whole.

10:42 PM | January 15, 2010 PST (GMT - 8)

Kenzo said:

Great resources and opinion piece that sparks an interesting debate on social design. Things have changed since Tibor. With social media as seen with the earthquake in Haiti Twitter and other social media applications enable individuals and companies to bring an idea to the masses. One thing I would like to add to the list is Project H's initiative that is coming up this February. "The Design Revolution Roadshow"

7:47 PM | January 24, 2010 PST (GMT - 8)