About This Course

This class emphasizes the theoretical, social and political relationships between design and the culture of society. Students learn theory and discourse related to designing for the public sector, specifically as related to ill-defined problem solving and the ethical obligations of designers. Students will examine case studies and examples of social entrepreneurship applied through interaction design vehicles, with an intent to discuss and reflect on approach, method, and theory.


Core Concepts and Ideas
  • Cultural responsibility, including the relationship between designers and users in a cultural context
  • Behavior design, focusing on the goal of shifting negative behavior in a responsible fashion
  • The ethics of design for and with people
  • Design thinking & politics, attempting to identify distinctions between policy approaches to complex problem solving and designerly approaches to the same problems
  • Wicked problems

Reading List
Outcomes and Competencies

The following outcome statements articulate the competencies, abilities, and skills a student will have as a result of completing this class. Students will...

  • Be able to articulately discuss and debate issues of interaction design in the context of designing for the public good
  • Be able to reference and cite scholars and designers that have previously framed interaction design problems in the context of social health and wellness
  • Exhibit a point of view that describes the role of design and design thinking in the context of social systems, services and spaces

Course Schedule

Section 1: Role and Responsibility

Class Topic In Class Readings for this Section Position Paper
9/5 Labor Day – No Class [1A] Maurizio Vitta
[1A] Allan Chochinov
[1A] Victor Papanek, 2 

[1B] Pat Moore
[1B] Jakob Nielsen, 2, 3
[1B] Kees Overbeeke

 Based on the readings, describe two different ways of positioning design in the context of society, and argue which is more important.
9/7 Jon at SOCAP – Class postponed to Friday
9/9 [Friday] Design, society and the public sector – overview Introduction to course
Discussion of the role of theory in practice
9/12 Consumption Discussion of readings [1A]
9/14 Universal Design & Usability Discussion of readings [1B]
9/19 Presentation of position paper [1] Discussion of readings [2A]

Section 2: Authoritative or Empathetic

Class Topic In Class Readings for this Section Position Paper
9/19 Empathy, sympathy, and responsibility Presentation of Position Paper 1
Discussion of readings [2A]		 [2A] Emily Pilloton
[2A] Victor Margolin, 2
[2A] Jane Fulton Suri, 2 

[2B] Chris Le Dantec
[2B] Jodi Forlizzi
[2B] Don Norman

[2C] Bill Gaver
[2C] Liz Sanders

 Based on the readings, describe the role of ethnography in design, and argue a position on designing “with” vs. designing “for”.
9/21 Designing with, Designing for Discussion of readings [2B]
9/26 Approaches and methods for social interventions Discussion of readings [2C]
9/28 Presentation of position paper [2] Discussion of readings [3A]

Section 3: Technology and Society

Class Topic In Class Readings for this Section Position Paper
9/28 Human experiences and technology Presentation of Position Paper 2
Discussion of readings [3A]		 [3A] Neil Postman 

[3A] John Dewey

[3B] Paul Dourish
[3B] Danah Boyd
[3B] Will Evans

[3C] C.K. Prahalad
[3C] Erik Hersman
[3C] Jocelyn Wyatt

 Describe the changing nature of designed culture, based on the increased presence and ubiquity — and acceptance — of technology in our lives; describe the differences between applying this technology in the US, as compared to in a developing country.
10/3 Society, Community, Privacy Discussion of readings [3B]
10/5 Design in developing countries Discussion of readings [3C]
10/10 Columbus Day – No Class
10/12 Presentation of position paper [3] Discussion of readings [4A]

Section 4: Problem Solving

Class Topic In Class Readings for this Section Position Paper
10/12 Problem Solving Presentation of Position Paper 3
Discussion of readings [4A]		 [4A] Herb Simon
[4A] Chris Pacione 

[4B] Richard Buchanan
[4B] Philip Johnson-Laird

 Based on the readings, describe the difficulties in solving complex problems.
10/17 The nature of problems Discussion of readings [4B]
10/24 Work in Class
10/26 Presentation of position paper [4]