Social Design For Wicked Problems Social Design For Wicked Problems

The role that social design plays in relation to persistant social problems is developing. In the series DAE TALKS, Het Nieuwe Instituut teams up with DOEN, Tabo Goudswaard and Twynstra Gudde to present the publication SOCIALDESIGNFORWICKEDPROBLEMS (SDFWP), which explores that specific role. The authors of the publication will reflect on the most important findings from SDFWP according to three perspectives.

• André Schaminée: "What is the relevance of social design to a management consultant?"
• Tabo Goudswaard: "As a social designer, how can I really influence a social issue in a positive way?"
• Klaas Kuitenbrouwer: "How can we reconcile the seemingly conflicting interests of artistic autonomy and social impact in a single approach?"

The presentation will be followed by a discussion about what the practice of social design needs in order to develop further. The audience will be invited to share its vision and opinions during the discussion.

You can find the online version of the publication here.

Klaas Kuitenbrouwer is programme coordinator at Het Nieuwe Instituut and teaches at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy. He researches and writes about interdisciplinary practice and develops cultural programmes. His work focuses on the intersections between technology and culture.

Tabo Goudswaard is an artist and social designer who designs new ways of looking at social problems. He attempts to connect with the everyday behaviour of people by designing new, concrete prospects for action with and for those involved.

André Schaminée is a management consultant at Twynstra Gudde and founder of Twynstra Gudde/ Social Design, in which the capacities of visual artists and designers are combined with the expertise of management consultants to develop new strategies for addressing complex questions.

Various social designers and organizations spent half a year enthusiastically developing new approaches to so-called wicked problems. This publication discusses the three projects carried out as part of SDFWP. It also shows how a new approach to each problem is offered and what this means for those involved. In addition, the following question was explored at a meta-level: What is needed to enable this promising discipline to evolve further? Read more about SDFWP.

One of the initiators of this project is DOEN. Nina Tellegen, Director of DOEN Foundation: 'Social Design For Wicked Problems shows us that that things can be done differently and that artists and designers are able to change the world. DOEN supports them in this, and makes connections among them to bring closer DOEN's ideal of a green, social and creative society. With our support we hope to further stimulate the meaning and impact of Social Design.'