Panel Discussion: Global Innovative Design for Social Change

摘要

As designers, we are solution seekers and innovators. It is in our core to find the best method or design to meet the needs of the customer, or create a great intuitive product that brings the most revenue. However, most of the work is concentrated on designing products for the people in the developed countries who could afford luxuries like the iPod and alike. There is a great shift now towards reaching beyond borders, especially designing for the people at the bottom of the pyramid. In this panel, we will concentrate on two areas that the design can play a significant role in advancement of societies: (1) Design for improving socio-economic structure such education, health, food and shelter, (2) Design for creating commercially viable products that can create sustainable businesses. Our panelists will share their experiences on how we, as designers, can make a difference in the way people live their lives.