Counter-framing design: Radical Design Practices for Sustainability and Social Change

社会政治框架(体现在更广泛的社会中的观点和价值观)是社会研究中的一个重要概念，用于理解社会变化是如何发生的，但这种知识在设计理论中还不够发达。这是一个相关的研究领域，因为设计已经从关注有形的产品和服务转向无形和复杂的社会问题，导致了许多新的子学科--如系统设计、社会设计和转型设计--关注塑造可持续的未来。然而，由于社会变革理论在设计研究中的整合有限，能够支持设计师在这些背景下理解和管理变革的政治/意识形态方面的知识是缺乏的。在本研究中，我们将社会变革理解为特定领域中的行为者之间通过谈判、冲突和争辩从不同的框架位置进行互动的过程。场域是文化生产的舞台，演员之间的权力斗争在这里上演。最有权势的人所代表的主导或“制度化”的框架地位，受到了“反框架”的挑战。“反框架”是指随着社会的发展而出现的价值观、信仰和实践，旨在获得权力和影响力，以影响变革。根据不同的机构议程和做法，在可持续发展领域内，以不同方式看待和处理问题的框架立场并存。对特定框架构成的有限认识可能会导致在可持续性问题上取得表面进展(例如技术修复)，这意味着设计师可能会加强动员社会变革能力有限的制度化框架。社会政治框架立场与战略行动之间的关系在设计理论中的认识有限，因此，对设计在社会变革过程中的潜在作用的理解还不够深入。本研究的目的是了解社会政治框架与可持续发展领域战略行动之间的关系，发展一种新的设计方法来支持社会变革设计的理论和实践。将解决以下研究问题：RQ1。在可持续发展领域的话语中可以确定哪些框架位置？RQ2。设计实践如何理解和管理现场帧之间的冲突、争辩和协商？RQ3。社会政治框架和设计理论的整合如何为社会变革的设计实践提供信息？这项研究的重点是英国的基层社区/公民团体，他们的倡议被描述为“新经济学”，与联合国可持续发展目标相关。这项研究将利用参与性方法与主要行为者合作，开发一种新的设计方法(框架和工具)，以促进这些组织的战略决策。设计方法将分三个阶段发展：过去-领域映射，概念化一个由领域理论和框架创建提供信息的框架；此时此地--现场干预，在三个实地地点开发和试验设计研究工具；未来--领域挑衅，与设计实践者验证该方法。本项目将发展以下知识：1)通过社会变革过程中的经验设计干预，设计实践在解决复杂社会问题中的作用；2)以社会-政治框架理论为信息的社会变化设计研究的新的实用方法；3)作为设计对象的社会变革过程的新批判性视角。研究成果将主要影响设计学术界和实践者社区，通过开发新的战略设计方法，使设计师能够在复杂问题上与社会参与者接触。通过使用战略设计促进社区/公民解决社会问题，成果还将直接惠及基层组织、公司和政策制定者，间接惠及民间社会。

Socio-political frames (perspectives and values embodied in wider society) are an important concept in social research for understanding how social change happens, yet this knowledge is underdeveloped in design theory. This is a relevant area of study because design has shifted from a focus on tangible products and services to intangible and complex social issues, leading to many new sub-disciplines - such as systemic, social and transition design - concerned with shaping sustainable futures. However, knowledge that can support designers in understanding and managing the political/ideological aspects of change in these contexts is lacking, due to limited integration of theories of social change within design research.In this study, we understand social change as a process of interaction between actors in a given field, through negotiation, conflict and contestation from different frame positions. A field is an arena of cultural production where power struggles between actors are played out. Dominant or 'institutionalised' frame positions embodied by the most powerful are challenged by 'counter-frames'- values, beliefs and practices that emerge as societies evolve - constructed to gain power and influence to affect change. Frame positions that perceive and approach issues differently co-exist within the sustainability field, based on different institutional agendas and practices. Limited awareness of what a given frame constitutes may lead to superficial progress on sustainability issues (e.g. technical fixes), meaning designers may reinforce institutionalised frames that have limited capacity for mobilising social change. Knowledge of the relationship between sociopolitical frame positions and strategic action is limited in design theory and as such, understanding of the potential role of design in social change processes is underdeveloped.The aim of this study is to understand the relationship between socio-political framing and strategic action in the field of sustainability, to develop a novel design approach to support design for social change theory and practice. The following research questions will be addressed: RQ1. What frame positions can be identified within the sustainability field discourse?RQ2. In which ways can design practice understand and manage conflict, contestation and negotiation between frames within the field?RQ3. How can integration of socio-political framing and design theories inform design practice for social change? The research focuses on UK-based grassroots community/citizen groups whose initiatives are described as 'new economics' and are relevant to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The study will collaborate and partner with key actors using participatory methods to develop a novel design approach (framework and tools) to facilitate strategic decision-making in these organisations. The design approach will be developed in three stages: Past-Field Mappings, conceptualising a framework informed by field theory and frame creation; Here and Now-Field Interventions, developing and piloting design research tools at three field sites; Future-Field Provocations, validating the approach with design practitioners.This project will develop knowledge of: 1) the role of design practices in tackling complex social issues through empirical design interventions in social change processes; 2) new practical approaches to design research for social change informed by socio-political frame theory; 3) new critical perspectives on social change processes as the object of design.The research outcomes will primarily impact the design academic and practitioners' communities by developing a new strategic design approach to enable designers to engage with social actors on complex issues. By using strategic design to foster community/citizen solutions to social issues, the outcomes will also directly benefit grassroots organisations, corporates and policymakers and indirectly civil society.