IMPACT DESIGN

IMPACT DESIGN
Instructor: Maya Vinitsky

In a time when grassroots change initiatives are increasingly led by individuals and communities, bottom-up processes are becoming a central force in shaping social, environmental, cultural, and technological realities.

The course will explore ways in which design can be used to promote, delay, or steer processes of change, serving as a tool for taking a stand and initiating active intervention. We will examine local and international initiatives from the fields of design and architecture; entrepreneurship, innovation, and social activism; and meet professionals working in these areas. Through discussion, analysis, and exposure to real-world case studies, we will identify existing patterns and work toward generating new, impactful actions. A multi-stage design process will take place throughout the course – from identifying and refining needs, through developing directions for action and design, to implementation and demonstration in the relevant field.