Awareness of social design has grown since the latter half of the 20th century when the negative aspects of commercial design became more prominent, and designers’ social responsibility was discussed. However, the term social design didn't become widely recognized until the early 21st century. Presently, social design is commonly understood as an endeavor that doesn't prioritize profit but rather aims to create something to address social issues as its primary goal.
Social design is a design practice that emphasizes addressing social issues over generating profit. It adopts a citizen-oriented approach, focusing on creating meaningful solutions both for and with the community. Social design is considered “design” insofar as it seeks to innovate something new. Its outcomes should not only meet societal needs but also embody an aesthetic quality.
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