The Social Design Reader

The Social Design Reader helps the reader understand how to use design as a catalyst for social change. The Reader brings together key writings by leading proponents and practitioners of social design, including Ken Garland, Victor Papanek, Ezio Manzini and Steven Heller, tracing the emergence of socially responsible design as a concept, as a nascent field of study, and now as a discipline of professional practice. This volume represents the authentic voices of thinkers, writers, and designers who are helping to build a 'canon' of informed literature to document the development of the discipline.

The Social Design Reader surveys key texts written over the past 50 years, beginning with the publication of Ken Garland's 1964 First Things First manifesto, and including writings by scholars, critics and designers including Victor Papanek, Ezio Manzini, Victor Margolin and Steven Heller. These extracts are combined with Elizabeth Resnick's contextualising editorial introductions, newly commissioned material by design educators and practitioners, and useful resources for students to aid further research and inform practice.