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The design community often promotes the notion that Design can revolutionize the world, as if It possessed some noble essence, independently capable of generating positive impacts. “The power of Design” is what I often hear. However, this mystification or romanticized narrative about design masks another process: the role of Design…

Capitalism

The challenge of imagining life beyond capitalism The end of the world has been a popular theme in literature, but have you considered the end of capitalism? Fredric Jameson argues that imagining a world without capitalism is harder than imagining the end of the world, as capitalism deeply shapes our…

Complexity Blindness

Why are we stuck? Examining complexity blindness Why do we remain stuck, unable to effectively address the world’s most challenging problems? Why do capitalist and conservative paradigms persist despite intensifying threats like climate change, systemic inequality and other deeply rooted issues? Why do so many people turn to conspiracy-driven ideas…

Conservative Thinking

Designers navigating conservative power structures When designers, armed with creativity and a commitment to social innovation, venture into spaces dominated by conservative power structures, they often find themselves walking a tightrope. On one side lies the solid ground of traditional norms and values; on the other, a chasm of unknowns,…

Critical vs Critical

In intellectual discourse and analysis, the term "critical thinking" often surfaces as an essential skill. At its core, critical thinking is the practice of processing information critically, engaging in reflective reasoning, and making decisions based on thoughtful evaluation. However, the interpretation and application of critical thinking can vary considerably depending…

Design

Design as production-oriented problem-solving Design is commonly understood from a production-oriented perspective, where clients select designers based on a desired outcome—a logo, a shoe, or an app—that designers then create. This approach views design primarily as a means to deliver tangible, predefined products, emphasizing the end result over the broader…

Design Thinking

Design Thinking can be defined as a human-centered approach to problem-solving and innovation that acknowledges the social and cultural dimensions of design. Design Thinking emphasizes empathy, collaboration, iteration and prototyping as key principles for developing solutions that are responsive to the needs and aspirations of diverse social groups. Design Thinking…

Desirability, Feasibility and Viability

Examining the design thinking triad in practice As scholars, practitioners and students of design, we are likely familiar with the triadic framework of design thinking, which emphasizes desirability, feasibility and viability as the key dimensions to consider when approaching a design problem. This model is celebrated for its pragmatic, user-centered…

Extinction

In the academic community, there is an increasing awareness of the complexities and challenges associated with gaining global consensus and driving action to address climate change. International negotiations and climate agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, have made significant strides in recent years, yet the implementation and enforcement of these…

Futurbulences

Future shock and the rise of futurbulences In 1970, Alvin Toffler introduced the concept of Future Shock, predicting that accelerating technological change would push society into a state of shock and disorientation. Today, we face a new phenomenon: the impacts of futurbulences—the failure of positive futures to arrive. We live…

Marketing

This text has been written with the critical help of an AI, using my notes and references with improved grammar and cohesion. AI also helps extracting relevant titles from my writing.Marketing is a strategic, communicative discipline aimed at influencing consumer behavior and driving demand by identifying, anticipating and fulfilling perceived…

Marxism

Marxism is a socio-political and economic theory developed by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. It provides a framework for analyzing and examining capitalist societies and advocating for social change. Marxism focuses on the analysis of social relations and class struggle, examining how the material conditions of production shape the dynamics…

Mystification of Capitalism

From a critical perspective, mystification refers to a deliberate and systematic process employed within various social, economic, and ideological contexts to obscure or conceal the underlying power dynamics, contradictions, and inequalities inherent in a given system. It involves creating an aura of mystery, obfuscation, or enchantment around certain concepts, practices,…

Neurocapitalist Design

In the contemporary capitalist landscape, designers play one of the most essential role in shaping the material conditions and the symbolic world we collectively inhabit. However, as creative agents operating within this economic context, designers must confront the often-unacknowledged ways in which capitalism can restrain, limit and constrain their work.…

Pilars of Capitalism

As a teacher of design, foresight and sustainable business models, I often encounter the challenges of engaging students and stakeholders in critical discussions about capitalism. Many people have a limited understanding of capitalism and how it shapes our society, often confusing it with democracy, freedom, and innovation. This confusion can…

Sense-Jamming

This text has been written with the critical help of an AI, using my notes and references with improved grammar and cohesion. AI also helps extracting relevant titles from my writing.Sense-jamming is a cognitive phenomenon where the constant bombardment of digital stimuli—driven by smartphones, social media and algorithmic content—overwhelms users’…

Sense-Making

Sense-making is the process by which individuals and groups make meaning of their experiences to understand and interact with the world. It is a dynamic and contingent process shaped by social, cultural, and political contexts and involves constructing, deconstructing, and reconstructing meaning. This complex process is not fixed or objective…

Social Constructionism

Social constructionism is a sociological theory positing that significant aspects of our social reality, such as knowledge, truth, and identities, are not inherent or naturally occurring, but are instead constructed through social interactions and cultural norms. This theory underscores the critical role of language, discourse, and power relations in shaping…

Social vs Societal

Fictional AI-illustration Definition Grasping the distinction between "social" and "societal" is essential for effective social innovation. While "social" focuses on individual interactions and community dynamics, "societal" encompasses the larger frameworks that shape these interactions. By integrating both perspectives, designers can avoid reinforcing individualistic narratives and work towards systemic change that…

Solutionism

Solutionism is a term coined by the Belarusian-American political analyst and writer Evgeny Morozov to refer to a mindset or ideology that views technological solutions as the primary or sole means of addressing complex social, political, and economic problems. According to Morozov, solutionism is characterized by a belief that technological…

Strategic Design

Strategic design is an interdisciplinary field that leverages the design framework to explore and discover strategic opportunities and challenges. It involves collaboration among multiple disciplines and stakeholder groups to navigate complex and uncertain environments. The goal is to identify potentialities for strategic success by applying design methodologies and approaches. Strategic…

Strategic Foresight

Strategic foresight is the process of using analytical tools and methods to anticipate, analyze and assess potential opportunities and threats in order to develop strategies for the future. It is a proactive approach that involves looking beyond the present and using tools such as scenario planning and trend analysis to…

Strategy

If originally, strategy was the art of generals planning for battle leveraging strength and cunning, today there are many angles and takes on the topic of strategy. But it is possible its general outline which commonly involves making sense of a situation and available resources, anticipating different outcomes, deciding a…

Surface vs Structures

Moving beyond surface problems in design and social science Design and social science increasingly emphasize moving beyond surface problems to uncover the structural factors that sustain issues. When social science researchers stress the importance of examining more than the visible symptoms of a problem, they aim to explore interconnected elements—such…

The Stack

Understanding the stack The concept of "The Stack" provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the layers of infrastructure that make up contemporary digital networks and systems. The stack consists of various layers of hardware, software, protocols and standards, all interconnected and interdependent. This framework helps in organizing and comprehending the…

Unpacking ideology

The limits of ideology as an analytical tool The term "ideology" often serves as a convenient shortcut for discussing a wide array of social beliefs and behaviors. While this simplification can be useful for quick discussions or generalizations, it has its drawbacks. The risk lies in viewing ideology as a…

Upstream Explorations

In strategic design, upstream explorations are the process of investigating, understanding and defining the broader context and systems within which a problem or opportunity exists, before moving to specific solution development. This concept can be understood with the metaphor of a river, where downstream actions are those that deal with the…

Wicked Problems

EXAMPLES OF WICKED PROBLEMS Climate change and environmental degradation Global poverty and economic inequality Human trafficking and modern slavery Sexual exploitation and sex trafficking Drug trafficking and substance abuse Rape culture and sexual violence Gender-based violence and domestic abuse Forced labor and labor exploitation Child exploitation and abuse Refugee crises…