Strategic Urban Ethics Planning Standard
Introduction
There are at least three meanings for the term social design: the one that appeals to the social responsibility of the professional, the one that values the economic-social dimension of their work "Work (sociology)"), in fields such as the design of products (industrial and artisanal), services, systems (including social ones), architecture, urban planning, communication... among others and the one that aims to convert the activity of designing companies and organizations in general (including social structures) into a scientific activity.
Thus, the term 'social design' has different nuances depending on the context in which it is used:
The proposed classification has common ground since the dividing lines are not rigid. We analyze the three mentioned contexts below.
Inside the world of Design
When we think about design, we imagine products to be sold, manufactured by an industry and directed to consumers. But many designers have learned that “social responsibility” is necessary in design practice. That is, a design oriented towards people, that seeks to work for and by people, and that has something more than the benefit of a transaction of purchase and sale of services. [8].
Víctor Papanek stated that designers and creative professionals have their share of social responsibility since their activity can imply changes in the real world, depending on whether they do good or bad design. Papanek writes about responsible design; For example, designers can help design greener products by carefully selecting the materials they use, or they can be designed to satisfy needs rather than wants; Furthermore, a responsible design must take care of designing for the Third World. Designers have responsibility for the choices they make in the design processes.
Víctor Margolin contributes to the development of the definition of social design as that productive activity that attempts to develop human and social capital at the same time as profitable products and processes; Thus the designer must foresee and shape material and immaterial products that can solve human problems on a broad scale and contribute to social well-being. This way of thinking is being built by currents that emphasize social design. In this vision, social design is a professional and economic activity, which is why it should not be framed in the world of charity or volunteer work, but should be seen as a professional contribution that must be taken into account in local economic development.