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Nrm-critical design as a path forward in the relational turn: Examples from a norm-critical exploration of the HBSC survey
No full textThis article explores how norm-critical design can contribute to the relational turn in design, drawing on a previous study of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey. While relational design emphasizes contextualization, interdependencies, and evolving relationships, norm-critical design provides tools to identify, visualize, and challenge embedded norms within these relationships. By transforming survey questions into design concepts, this study demonstrates how norm-critical design materializes implicit assumptions, making them visible for critique and reflection. The findings illustrate that surveys are not neutral data collection tools but performative instruments shaping relationships, self-perceptions, and societal norms. The article argues that norm-critical design expands relational design by offering methodologies to critically examine, understand and engage with the complex networks of relationships that shape human and non-human interactions. This alignment between norm-critical and relational design underscores how design is not merely a problem-solving tool but an intervention into relational dynamics
Mattering Relational Design Pedagogies
No full textThis workshop explores relationality in design education, particularly in the context of design practices that address social justice and climate change. It seeks to create a space for design educators to share and exchange practical approaches for integrating relational pedagogies frameworks into design education and embodying its principles in their teaching practices. Referring to theories on Relational Pedagogies, the workshop will address the dual meaning of “matter” – who matters and what matters – in design education. Drawing from their own experiences and imaginations, participants will be involved in mapping the bodies, objects, spaces, materialities and other non-human bodies and things that should be considered in relational design pedagogies and how to do so. The outcome will be a compilation of mapped approaches for relational design pedagogies which design educators can use in their own teaching practice and institutions. Ultimately, the workshop seeks to empower and emancipate design educators in the face of current socio-political and ecological challenges, offering a space for mutual exchange and collective reflection on how relationality can be concretely integrated in design education
Developing AI literacy through design education
No full textThe rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) in recent years is observable by its increasing adoption in various domains. Generative AI technologies have furthered this trend, yet AI remains opaque by nature and design. This poses challenges for designers of AI-enabled products, who need to understand materials properties to design effectively, emphasising a need for AI literacy, a multidimensional competency encompassing ethical, cognitive, and practical skills. The study explores how three distinct design practices, Research through Design, Human-Centred Design, and Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence, can help students develop AI literacy. We carried out the study with a class of eighteen graduate students, who engaged in designing an AI-enabled service, applied the three design practices, and documented their design process. By analysing their design deliverables, the study discusses how students evolved their AI literacy over one design course and provides preliminary insights into how a designerly approach can help cultivate AI literacy
In relation: Brazilian Indigenous fashion design
No full textContemporary applications of indigenous and ancient knowledge systems are seen as an opportunity to reestablish relationships of care and respect. This paper investigates how contemporary indigenous fashion designers in Brazil enmesh indigenous thinking in their practice. The paper starts by laying out discussions on indigenous knowledge systems and its relationships with design. Following, the indigenous fashion phenomena in Brazil is introduced and analysed through data collected via interviews and desktop research. To conclude, possible more than human directions that challenge the current paradigms in western fashion design practices are exposed. They are: relational practices, more than human notions of time and land-centered design as results of an indigenous knowledge informed fashion design practice
Citational justice in design education: Teaching/Learning relationality
No full textThis paper explores how Citational Justice can transform design education, challenging the dominant narrative of the isolated creative genius in favour of design as inherently relational and collaborative. Through a case study of a design theory seminar with 16 bachelor students, the paper demonstrates how Citational Justice reshapes teaching practices by revealing networks of influence and knowledge in design work. Drawing on relationality and care perspectives from Escobar and Puig de la Bellacasa, the research implements power-critical pedagogies such as “brave spaces”, and collaborative feedback. Results show three key transformations in students’ understanding: a new attitude toward inspiration and influence, recognition of design as networked knowledge production, and increased awareness of a designer’s responsibility. The findings suggest that centering Citational Justice in design education effectively transforms individualistic approaches, toward more relational, power-conscious practices
Tracing Human-AI Relations: A Participatory Approach to GenAI Integration in Creative Public Service Work
No full textThis paper examines a participatory process for integrating Generative AI (GenAI) into the creative work of a public service organization. Through this process, we gain insights into the complexities of human-AI relations, the evolving nature of creative work, and the conditions necessary for meaningful AI integration in service organizations. The paper makes two key contributions: it documents a case of participatory GenAI integration in a public service setting, and it explores implications for creative practice and the evolving role of human-AI collaboration. Findings highlight the importance of reflection, value-driven AI integration, and the need for facilitated spaces for critical reflection. The study contributes to ongoing discussions on how service organizations and designers can engage with AI in ways that align with professional identity, ethics, and creative agency
Towards Inclusive Digital Welfare: A Multi-Layered Co-Design Approach
No full textThis research examines digital inequality and how it affects both access to online services and community integration, utilizing a collaborative design approach conducted within the Milan metropolitan area. The investigation engaged experts, youth, and senior citizens through an inclusive methodology designed to create digital assistance programs via an interdisciplinary framework. The model integrates training, facilitation, and technical assistance to reduce inequalities in technology use. Anchored in a distributed ecosystem, the initiative blends physical and digital spaces to ensure equitable access. Findings emphasize the key role of human interaction and local collaboration in overcoming digital barriers
Beyond Packaging: Service Design as a Catalyst for Sustainable Personal Care and Circular Packaging in India
No full textPersonal care market is drowning in plastic waste. Every week, 420 million lower middle- class consumers discard 2.94 billion sachets, while 560 million middle-class households throw away 2.8 billion bottles and tubes monthly. Despite growing environmental awareness, the gap between intention and action remains huge- 72% of consumers know plastic harms the environment, but only 38% dispose of it properly. This paper argues that while Product-Service Systems (PSS) provide solid theoretical foundations, Service Design is the practical game-changer that can solve India\u27s packaging crisis. Through a mixed-method study involving 95 survey responses and 15 in-depth interviews across Indian cities, we discovered that consumers want to be sustainable but face real barriers: inconvenient refill locations, hygiene concerns, and lack of meaningful incentives. This study introduces “Dropify” a service-based circular packaging system combining QR- code transparency, Dropify makes the act of returning a bottle straightforward, significant, and scalable in a world where single-use culture predominates. It moves sustainability from the periphery to the mainstream, where it belongs. Even with 5% adoption in five metro cities, it could divert 168 million bottles annually. Through surveys and interviews, we show that incentives and access drive change more effectively than material swaps. The impact potential is significant: even with just 5% adoption in five metro cities, we could divert 168 million bottles annually and save 37,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent. Economic modelling shows the system becomes profitable within six months through consumer savings and brand loyalty. This study contributes three key insights: (1) quantitative evidence of India\u27s segment-specific waste patterns, (2) proof that behavioural incentives outperform material substitution, and (3) a scalable service blueprint that aligns consumer, brand, and policy interests
NaadSaathi: Physiotherapy as a Service for Tabla players
No full textRepetitive strain injuries are common among musicians; however, rehabilitation services remain largely reactive. This paper presents NaadSaathi, a physiotherapy service concept specifically for Tabla players considering the unique postures, asymmetrical workload, and repetitive movement patterns of Tabla playing. Some musicians avoid digital rehab, fearing it disconnects them from tradition. NaadSaathi blends Do-It-Yourself (DIY) exercise programs, tele-physiotherapy, and in-person therapy with digital posture monitoring. This work contributes to the intersection of physiotherapy (healthcare), high-tech interventions, and service design by redefining injury management for percussionists helping them return to peak performance while preserving tradition
Improving Service Information Inclusiveness in Emergency Preparedness and Response: A Case of Public Service Design in Commercial Large-Scale Mass Cultural Events
No full textAttention to the differentiated capabilities, needs, and expectations of vulnerable groups is an important research focus for inclusive service design. In a context where the increasing complexity of urban sites and industry chains has increased the potential risk of disasters, enhancing public emergency services is related to life safety for vulnerable groups. In disasters, user groups with special needs due to differences in cognitive abilities may be more vulnerable than other populations due to their exposure and crisis response competence. These vulnerable groups have more difficulty accessing emergency information and therefore lack adequate resources for emergency response. However, there is a lack of research on service information communication methods and touchpoints that address the cognitive characteristics. This paper proposes key points for emergency service information design from both delivery and access perspectives through a literature review: taking into account the cognitive differences of vulnerable groups and their initial response; integrating the information systems operated in different phases and providers. This paper takes the commercial large-scale mass cultural events scenario as a case, and tries to incorporate inclusive service design approaches into emergency service information