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Insights and positions on social and sustainable design

2 paintings in white frames on a white wall showing buildings and symmetrical designs integrated with the green of nature
2 paintings in white frames on a white wall showing buildings and symmetrical designs integrated with the green of nature
Paintings of buildings and nature by Inthira Tangjaroensutthichi, BA Textile Design, Chelsea UAL
Written by
Cat Cooper Published date
02 February 2021

Social design and design for sustainability place people and the environment at the forefront of design. The social design research community across UAL Colleges and Institutes lead important and exciting work in this space, applying these design principles across practical projects with partners in industry, government, communities and public services.

Now UAL Social Design Institute has brought together some of the key people in social design and design for sustainability across UAL, to capture key ideas and themes from their work leading on social and sustainable design.

These rich and diverse insights are shared in a set of 11 free to download publications:

  • Professor Sandy Black, London College of Fashion, UAL examines how design-led, small and micro fashion businesses pioneer solutions for the wider fashion industry
  • Dr Jamie Brassett, Central Saint Martins, UAL explores the ontological conceptualisation of social design and argues for its institution as an 'assemblage'.
  • David Cross, Chelsea College of Arts, UAL proposes that art, design and the humanities are spaces for creativity and criticality, that can promote ‘planetary health’
  • Professor Becky Earley, Centre for Circular Design, Chelsea College of Arts, UAL shares how she uses textile design and making to open up conversations about unsustainable economic systems
  • Professor Lorraine Gamman and Professor Adam Thorpe, Design Against Crime Research Centre, Central Saint Martins, UAL describe how the application of social-design methods to their work within the criminal justice system has enabled them to address the use, abuse and misuse of objects, environments, systems and services
  • Professor Lucy Kimbell, UAL Social Design Institute, discusses some characteristics of social design and the context in which it has emerged
  • Dr Maria Patsarika, UAL Social Design Institute, demonstrates how design is a form of social dialogue, conducive to mutual learning
  • Professor Alison Prendiville, London College of Communication, UAL shows how design expertise can help create meaningful collaboration across different disciplines
  • Professor Malcolm Quinn, Camberwell, Chelsea, Wimbledon Colleges of Arts, UAL shows how designing has been caught up with politics and publics for many decades
  • Professor Pratap Rughani, London College of Communication, UAL explores the role that design can play in promoting dialogue and understanding in times of political polarisation
  • Professor Dilys Williams, Centre for Sustainable Fashion, London College of Fashion, UAL shows how fashion can be a means of creative self-expression and reflection - as well as a way of promoting culture grounded in equity and sustainability

Find out more