Design isn't only about aesthetics, and a new exhibition at the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum in New York acknowledges that by focusing on designs and ideas that address social concerns. Titled 'By the People: Designing for a Better America,' the exhibit features 60 projects that deal with many different societal concerns across the US.
The issues tackled in the series include things like access to food and water, improving housing conditions and environmental concerns. The social concerns span across all areas of the US, including issues that plague both rural and urban communities.
The Cooper Hewitt exhibit is divided into six themes: Act, Save, Share, Live, Learn and Make. Each of these themes contains designs and ideas that fall under many of the categories mentioned above.
Socially Responsible Design Exhibits
The Cooper Hewitt Exhibit Addresses Many Social Concerns
Trend Themes
1. Designing for Social Impact - The trend towards creating designs that address social concerns spans across various categories and can be used to create disruptive innovations that prioritize addressing societal issues.
2. Community Empowerment Through Design - The exhibit showcases designs that help communities access resources and address social issues, making community empowerment an important area for innovation across different industries.
3. Multi-thematic Design Exhibitions - Hosting exhibits that showcase designs addressing various social concerns across different themes is a growing trend that museums and galleries can leverage to drive interest and inspire innovation across industries.
Industry Implications
1. Design Industry - The design industry can incorporate socially responsible design principles into all aspects of their work from products and services to branding, packaging, and advertising.
2. Non-profit Industry - Non-profit organizations can collaborate with designers and utilize socially responsible design to help address the societal concerns they are working to solve.
3. Community Development Industry - Community development initiatives can leverage design thinking and social innovation to address social concerns and improve the quality of life for residents in their area.