Conference: “Young Creators for Better City & Better Life” Cumulus Shanghai Conference 2010
ISBN: 978-952-60-0046-6
Author: Ji Tie, Yang Qiuyue
Abstract
In this study, we observed people in the context of communities instead of people as individual. In reference to research methods and results in sociology and anthropology, we took Pingtan Village in Tongdao Dong Minority Autonomous County as the research object, and carried out a rural community transformation practice using design-team participatory approaches. We aimed to explore proper approaches for designers to participate in social innovation and possibilities for designers with different backgrounds to work together efficiently.
According to the “power theory” of Michel Foucault and the “local knowledge” discourse of Clifford Geertz, we argue that designers need an appropriate structure (design power or ability to drive social innovation) in the process of social innovation. Relatively, the construction of “knowledge platforms” and “organizational design” is much more important than the actual design outputs. Design will use a more tensional structural form and social identity power (innovation networks, design networks, social networks, etc.) to participate in community social innovation, making web-based and sustainable harmonious community possible.

Keywords: social innovation, design power, knowledge platforms, organizational design, community

Design Power and Social Innovation