Design und Gemeinschaft
How can designers support and initiate social innovation with participatory and open design approaches? The concept of social innovation by Ezio Manzini defines the development of new ways to meet daily needs that can serve social, economic and ecological demands in equal measure. Since social innovation is based on co-creation and active participation, this paper studies participation-oriented design methods for their contribution to social innovation. In particular, the design of infrastructures according to Pelle Ehn and the Open Design movement are examined in greater detail, both theoretically and on the basis of actual projects. There is abundant potential for supporting social innovation with design.
HARVEST
The HARVEST project aims to demonstrate an alternative approach to treating resources, making use of existing possibilities. Many valuable organic materials from the region have been given little attention to date. Natural plant growth is taken advantage of in order to process virgin wool, green stalk moss, nettle fibres and other regional raw materials into textile-like materials: the fine roots of oats grow through the raw materials and combine with them to form a stable material. The properties of the composite material can be determined directly during the growth process by specifying structures through templates. Different areas with different material properties can be assigned to one connected piece.
