Design for social innovation and inclusion.

Craddock, Cameron T.; Fairburn, Susan M

Abstract

Designing out crime is a strategy that the UK Design Council continues to profile and support, promoting the use of design as an approach for addressing social challenges and combating crime (UK Design Council 2011). This paper considers the strategy and application of design for social innovation to create an inclusive platform for participation in city locations where youth activity isn't otherwise encouraged. Design and diversionary activities can enhance wellness and contribute to healthier urban communities and these are the issues that Streetsport, an innovative diversionary tactics initiative, has sought to address. As a pilot project that grew into an established programme, Streetsport has proved itself as a vehicle of engagement that uses sport and creative activities to divert and distract disaffected young people (who are considered at risk of offending) from the pressures and challenging circumstances within their communities. Measures of the programme's impact are notable with reductions in both incidents of youth crime and complaints of youth anti-social behaviour in some instances down by over 50%. This paper describes the development of the Streetsport programme that began as a key partnership between Gray's School of Art, Grampian Police and RGU:Sport, with Designers playing a pivotal role in establishing and developing the strategy, for placing a mobile sports and activity arena and for making it visible both digitally (through branding and social media) and on location. Likened to a Trojan Horse, the temporary installation is deployed into the community at targeted strategic sites across Aberdeen city which include seven priority neighbourhoods reported by the Scottish Government as being in the 15% most deprived areas of Scotland (Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2009). As a result of this project, the key stakeholders involved now recognise and value the role of design and designers in developing, implementing and communicating youth services. This paper serves as a case study of how design can be applied to facilitate community engagement and how designers can apply their skills specifically to engage disaffected youth through community-based activities.

Citation

CRADDOCK, C.T. and FAIRBURN, S.M. 2013. Design for social innovation and inclusion. Presented at the 10th European Academy of Design conference (EAD 10): crafting the future, 17-19 April 2013, Gothenburg, Sweden.

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (unpublished)
• Conference Name: 10th European Academy of Design conference (EAD 10): crafting the future
• Conference Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
• Start Date: Apr 17, 2013
• End Date: Apr 19, 2013
• Deposit Date: Nov 11, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 11, 2016
• Keywords: Design for society; Social innovation; Design intervention; Designing out crime; Inclusivity; Community engagement; Social dimensions
• Public URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10059/1967