DESIGN FOR SOCIAL IMPACT

The spirit of a society is captured in its stories and symbols. Everywhere we look we see messages and images that reinforce our American culture. But, what are they saying to us and about us?

Today, our public stories are dominated by consumerism and bad news. It seems that fear, anger and selfishness have replaced messages of hope, happiness and shared values.

We all know there’s more to the story. Many of us are searching for a truer collective voice. One that captures the best of our culture and brings out our highest aspirations. There must be better ways than just advertising, entertainment and the news to tell our story in a thoughtful, beautiful and meaningful way.

We’ve all seen how inspiring creativity can be. It moves people to feel more deeply and act more fully. Creative workers have always been at the center of storytelling and symbol-making. Artists have challenged perspectives and continue to remind us of the most important aspects of the human condition.

We’ve also seen community building pave the way to tangible action. Organizers have gathered people together over important issues, encouraging action that makes society better.

When the two come together, the results are powerful! There are many examples, from emergency benefit concerts to thought-provoking documentaries to highly visual public art that call attention to social issues most often as a reaction to a problem.

This is the magic of design for social impact and our belief in it could change the face of our public story. Used in a proactive way not just in response to crisis we have an opportunity to reach people and promote the world we all want to see.