This is my first blog, set about to share my explorations and questions in my quest to design a social design course for high schoolers in the context of a progressive education model, at a school that values both the arts and social justice. It seemed natural to combine the two, and to combine this with our students passions for asking questions and experimenting.
I am an art faculty at the Cambridge School of Weston (https://www.csw.org) a progressive independent school in the Boston suburbs. This year I was awarded the first Alorie Parkhill Grant (one of two Parkhill grants awarded this year) to study social design in the Netherlands. I am travelling to Amsterdam and around the country to see examples of social design, talk to practitioners and educators, and to develop curriculum.
And so I find myself in Amsterdam biking, looking, and meeting people involved in social design.
Here is a statement from my grant application about my interest:
Social Design (albeit that it has many definitions) is something I have been interested in since 2013, when I was in the Netherlands for an artist residency. It was clear to me that design has an important role in the Dutch culture; one used to improve daily life, and address more universal issues.
My working definition of Social Design is: design meant to solve or address issues of social justice (big or small), and not just to sell a product. Part of its appeal to me and why I think it fits the Cambridge School of Weston, is how it combines many fields (architecture, design, and art, but also science and technology, social research, city planning, history, and more) with social justice. I am very interested in researching the field, and developing a course with accompanying curriculum tailored to our population.
On a more personal level, Social Design features some innovative and strong concepts, and innovative use of technology and materials. I am especially interested in the research around bio-plastics and other creative, environmentally conscience materials, and the exploration of new 3D printing materials. Several designers in the Netherlands are exploring 3D printing on an architectural scale such as the 3D printed Canal House project, and a 3D printed steel bridge. As both an artist and educator, I find this field inspiring, thought provoking, and ripe to explore with my students.
*Also, I just geek out on materials and problem solving. And most things Dutch.
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