Large-Scale Design-Driven Social Innovation: What Works

Shaping social change is the great challenge of our time. It requires us to change our thinking on a deep level, embrace a different logic, and develop new design-based approaches that go beyond ‘fixing problems’, a fundamental, profound shift in addressing societal challenges. This talk is about HOW this can be done.

It takes creative design practices to a wholly different level, showing how they can inform societal change. This idea comes together in a Studio model, a new innovation infrastructure that creates the space for significant, ongoing change. Case studies form the backbone of this talk: they take us through new thinking and new practices, inspiring growth and change. Once you see this, you can’t unsee it anymore. And you have to ACT!

About the Speaker

Kees Dorst is Professor of Transdisciplinary Innovation at the University of Technology Sydney’s TD School. He is considered one of the leading thinkers in the design field, and he is valued for his ability to connect a philosophical understanding of the logic of design with hands-on practice. As a bridge-builder between these two worlds, his writings on design as a way of thinking are read by both practitioners and academics. He has written several bestselling books in the field – ‘Understanding Design’ (2003, 2006), ‘Design Expertise’ (with Bryan Lawson, 2013), 'Frame Innovation' (2015) ‘Designing for the Common Good’ (2016) and ‘Notes on Design – How Creative Practice Works’ (2017). Over the years, his focus has developed to the use of designerly ways of thinking outside the traditional design domains – in particular, as applied to the problems of the new networked society. He has developed a set of methodologies to support these processes, experimenting with them in practice through the research centers and degree programs he founded.

Join us for light refreshments and a meet & greet following the talk.