Advocacy and Action
Design as Abolition: A Strategy for Transformational Change
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Courtney Brown, Taneshia W. Albert
This paper explores the innovative potential of design as a catalyst for abolition by dismantling inequitable systems in the built environment and fostering empowerment through community-led transformation. Drawing from empowerment theory, abolitionist frameworks, and co-design methodologies, this work reimagines design as a mechanism for systemic change and social equity. Empowerment theory provides the foundation for understanding the transformative power of design, emphasizing agency, self-determination, and control for marginalized communities. Abolitionist frameworks inspire the rethinking and dismantling of oppressive systems, while co-design methodologies introduce creative, inclusive practices that prioritize historically excluded voices and challenge traditional power dynamics within the design process. Grounded in historical analysis and theoretical perspectives, this paper proposes a forward-thinking framework for design practitioners. It envisions designers as agents of change, capable of creating community-driven systems that provide equitable access to critical resources such as healthcare, education, and housing. These innovations aim to establish environments of safety, inclusion, and empowerment, even in the absence of supportive policy. This work calls upon designers to embrace abolitionist and co-design principles as tools for innovation, reshaping the built environment into a landscape of justice and equity. By bridging theory and practice, this work highlights how creativity in design can serve as both advocacy and strategy for transformation change.
Seating Tales: Uncovering Design Students' Classroom Chair Needs and Goals View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Sonal Atreya, Abhishek Srivastava
Design education in India has seen remarkable growth in recent years, with design departments being established in technology and architecture institutions (like IITs, SPAs, etc.) as well as dedicated design institutions (like NIDs, NIFTs, WUD, etc.). The purchase of furniture for design classrooms often occurs with minimal or no consultation from design students, the primary users. This study addresses this gap by examining the needs and goals regarding classroom chairs. An online study was conducted with design students from undergraduate and postgraduate programs in India. The survey utilized the sentence completion projective technique to uncover underlying thoughts and feelings regarding classroom chair needs and goals. The responses were subjected to thematic analysis and sentiment analysis. 203 design students participated in the online study. The analysis of chair needs revealed three themes: i) Comfort and Ergonomics, ii) Health and Posture Support, iii) Functionality, Aesthetics, and Sustainability. The goals resulted in four themes- i) Enhanced Productivity and Focus, ii) Health and Wellness, iii) Creative Outcomes, and iv) Collaborative and Prolonged use. Most student responses were predominantly neutral (70%), followed by positive sentiments (30%). Based on the recurring patterns observed, student personas can be categorized as follows: Comfort Seekers (40%), Health-Conscious (35%), and Task-Oriented (25%). The study’s findings indicate key intervention areas concerning classroom chairs for design students. It emphasizes the need for better-designed seating solutions and points to the vital role that design institutions, furniture designers, and manufacturers play in addressing these specific needs.
Featured Designing for Mental Health Through Singapore’s Cultural Lens: Investigating Ways to Cultivate Cultures of Healing and Fostering a Culture of Care Among Young Adults View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Saradevi Ng
In September 2024, Singapore revealed alarming rates of “1 in 3” young adults with symptoms of poor mental health. This news however is a recurrent trend catapulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. This research investigates three key questions, how does Singapore’s cultural norms affect mental health among young adults? How can Singapore tap into cultural ways of being to heal as a collective and lastly how can a culture of care be built among young adults? Three research gaps were identified. Firstly, mental health is a western concept, with culturally different beliefs of mental health between East and West. Secondly, young adults, despite increased mental health awareness, struggle to manage their mental wellbeing. Thirdly, older generations exhibit greater adaptability compared to younger generations, prompting the potential to foster resilience through ancestral and cultural ways of wellbeing. This paper proposes a new approach to mental health through the combination of habit building and design thinking. Resilience building and design thinking shares similarities, as both processes are iterative rather than linear. Both incorporate elements of reframing challenges and coping with problems. This research aims to expand the boundaries of both design and approaches to mental wellbeing by utilising culturally appropriate, holistic approaches to mental health, in combination with design’s reiterative process. Hence, focusing on designing interventions for a more resilient and mentally healthy generation of Singapore young adults.
