“Waste is a design flaw, the ability to create circularity of all materials eliminates waste and builds a sustainable world.” – Kate Krebs. Design is a powerful tool that can be used to solve problems, create beauty, and make the world a better place. However, many normalised design approaches are often limited in their scope and effectiveness. In recent years, there has been a growing movement on how to rethink design and develop new approaches that are more inclusive, sustainable, and impactful. 

Design thinking emphasizes empathy, experimentation, and iteration as it solves problems in a human-centered approach. It empowers the creation of innovative and effective products, services, and experiences. Creating a more inclusive, sustainable, and equitable world requires this approach. Embracing new approaches and perspectives allows us to design solutions meeting the needs of all people and positively impacting the planet. In a world rapidly changing and becoming increasingly complex, design thinking holds greater importance than ever. But what does it mean to rethink design?

The ‘normalised’ design process is linear and focused on creating products or services that meet the needs of users. Designers first research the problem they are trying to solve, and then come up with a solution. They often then create prototypes of their solution and test them with users. Finally, they would refine their solution and release it to the market. This process has been successful in many cases, but it is not without its limitations. In today’s world, problems are often complex and interconnected. Users’ needs are also constantly changing. This means that the normalised design process is no longer sufficient.

What is Rethinking Design and Why is it Important?

Rethinking design involves embracing various approaches and perspectives. However, fundamentally, it entails challenging the status quo and discovering innovative problem-solving methods. This involves fostering openness to new ideas, promoting collaboration, and considering design’s impact on the world, including issues like waste and lack of inclusion in chosen design solutions.

The importance of rethinking design stems from numerous reasons. Conventional design approaches often limit their scope and effectiveness. They might overlook the needs of diverse users and fail to prioritize sustainability or substantial positive impacts on the world. Rethinking design addresses these limitations by fostering more inclusive, sustainable, and impactful design solutions.

There are many different ways to rethink design. Some of the key principles include:

• Being more user-centered: This means designing with the needs of the user in mind. It means understanding their wants, needs, and goals, and designing solutions that meet those needs.
• Being more collaborative: This means working with others to solve problems. It means bringing together people from different backgrounds and perspectives to create new and innovative solutions.
• Being more mindful of the impact of design: This means considering the environmental, social, and economic implications of design. It means designing solutions that are sustainable and that have a positive impact on the world.

Rethinking design involves actively creating accessibility. It requires designing products and services that cater to people of all abilities, considering the specific needs of individuals with disabilities and crafting solutions they can readily utilize. Designing for accessibility transcends mere compliance with regulations or minimum standards; it aims to establish a world where universal participation and flourishing are possible. Embracing accessibility principles enables us to nurture a society that’s more inclusive and equitable, using technology as an empowering tool rather than a barrier.

Designing for sustainability involves actively shaping products and services to benefit the environment. It necessitates the use of sustainable materials and practices while ensuring product durability. At its essence, sustainable design embodies a comprehensive approach, meticulously addressing a product or system’s entire lifecycle. Each stage, from material selection to production, distribution, and eventual disposal, carries the weight of its environmental impact. Thus, the initial step in sustainable design entails consciously curating materials.

Opting for renewable resources and recycled materials becomes imperative. The choice of materials extends beyond their immediate utility to encompass their sourcing, manufacturing process, and eventual decomposition. A shift towards utilizing low-impact materials not only reduces the strain on natural resources but also minimizes the ecological footprint.

The impact of design for social impact extends far beyond the realm of tangible products and services. It encompasses a holistic approach that addresses the root causes of social issues, promoting systemic change and sustainable development. Designers in this field work closely with policymakers, non-profit organizations, and community leaders to develop strategies that address poverty, education, healthcare, environmental sustainability, and other critical social determinants of health. 

Designing for social impact means designing products and services that have a positive impact on society. It means addressing social issues and designing solutions that improve people’s lives. As design for social impact continues to evolve, it holds immense promise for addressing the pressing challenges of our time. By harnessing the power of human-centered design, we can create solutions that are not only innovative and effective but also sustainable, scalable, and empowering. Design has the potential to transform our world for the better, and design for social impact is leading the way.

Design thinking is a valuable tool, but it is not enough to address the challenges of the 21st century. We need to rethink design.  Design thinking has been criticized for its focus on individual users rather than systemic issues. It has also been said to be too focused on problem-solving and not enough on creating positive change. 

We should not abandon the traditional design process. Instead, we should expand our toolkit and develop new ways of thinking about and solving problems. By using the approaches and resources listed above, designers can create products and services that are not only beautiful and functional, but also innovative and impactful.

Design thinking has the potential to be a powerful force for good in the world, but we need to rethink it to address the challenges of the 21st century. By adopting a more holistic and inclusive approach to design, we can create a better future for all.