Social design: A qualitative analysis oriented designer's conscience and new social role

As an activity based on creativity, design has direct and indirect impacts on the transformation of society. At this point, it is critical to identify impacts of what sort is necessary for societal transformation. Ever-changing forms of relations between design and social realm generates new approaches in establishing design privileges. Social design postulates that designers, as creators of forms and contents, have to focus on basic needs and position themselves in a realist and ethical standpoint, rather than proliferating consumption values. Nevertheless, theoretical studies on the sociological context of design have not yet achieved a definite formula for the correlation between societal change and micro and macro dimensions of design. The present study focuses on the influence of socially responsible design approach on design practitioners, and their ethical process. It also attempts to understand how the present position and potential of designers in global production-consumption complex would be questioned, and how such questioning would effect contemporary practices. During this study, the researcher conducted in-depth semi structured interviews with twenty senior designers, ten from Turkey, ten from various European countries; and the data was analyzed in a descriptive fashion. The findings of the research provide a commentary on the link between designers' ethical concerns and their problem solving methods, and on how such practice would diffuse into the society. Ethical and conscientious self-inquiries of design practitioners contribute to raising awareness about their social roles. Additionally, rather than aesthetical priorities, socio-economical and cultural conditions seem to determine the ethical stance. Designers do have a great potential with their critical and self-responsible approach towards production and consumption processes, however probable social change triggered by such approaches seem to be highly limited.