SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE DESIGN

Radical solutions to the development of the third world countries can be achieved entirely by long-term planning. Weaknesses in democratic structures in these countries, and political and economic instabilities make it difficult to undertake progressive actions towards resolving these issues. Political and economic dependency to the first world countries makes this problem even more complicated.

Increase in work force and the development in the industrial activities will reduce the economic and therefore political dependencies of these countries to the First Word countries. This will create more stable political and economic structures and eventually it will improve the quality of life in these countries. At this point design with its connection to industrial and manufacturing areas has an important role.

Today maintaining success in business environment is very difficult. Competition is intense and traditional methods cannot offer solutions to the problem. In this new business environment success occurs in result to state of the art innovations. Design and new technologies are the new actors of making differences.

Besides the saturated markets of the First World countries, markets of the Third World countries offer new opportunities. Distinctions between products, services and industries is blurring with the help of new technologies. Alternative business models are searching the ways to add value to product/service cycle. It is possible for such new models in Third World countries to fulfil the needs of the market if they utilize their own resources and adding a furthermore value to their economies.

The social and economic problems of the Third World countries cannot be solved only by focusing on the material aspects of design. These solutions are not sufficient to tackle the problem entirely. Effective solution to this problem is the design and business strategies that will add value to economic structure of a country.

The problem is difficult to solve and it needs high ethical values. Individual progress isn’t independent from social progress. That’s why design is also “responsible” from solving the problem.

In this paper contribution of design activities to social responsibilities has been examined. The concepts, the theories, the policies and industry examples are reviewed. The role of design in influencing social-economic dynamics is investigated. This paper analyzes how the design profession, theory and education will act to the new demands of the new business environment. This paper also investigates how these theories and strategies can be evaluated in Turkey’s case.

Design Policies, Design and Social Responsibility, Design in Third World Countries, New Business Models