DesignShift: From Shifting Within to Shifting Beyond
We live in a reality where we must recognize the need for radical systems change while also accepting that the current system is what helps us pay our bills.
In the last year, I’ve been exploring how we can shift perspectives, practices, and the purpose of design. I dream of a future where everyone has what they need and a future where design supports human and planetary flourishing. This vision makes me hopeful while also making me acutely aware of the current reality many designers find themselves in: a reality where we recognize the need for radical systems change while also accepting that the current system is what helps us pay our bills.
The dominant capitalistic framework prioritizes financial growth above all else, often at the expense of true flourishing.
The tension between working within and dreaming beyond so something we face on a daily basis and this DesignShift aim to highlight this tension.
How can we imagine and create a better future while practicing harm reduction within current constraints?
How might we design at this critical intersection—honoring practical realities while refusing to abandon our boldest aspirations?
We must both dream beyond the system and find ways to create change within it. This is “Shift” is less of a before and after and more about navigating the present while working towards something better.
(Longer blog posts coming soon)
