But what does a Social Designer Do ?

 
              
What

I work around complex problems and projects in context to Social, Environmental and Political transformation. Being a Social Designer, my practice is at the intersection of Design, Politics and Society, often addressing Behavior design, Societal led transformation and Design Justice at its core. Which means, keeping the requirements of the project in mind, I adapt to a new approach in understanding human behavior and how to change that behavior in a positive way, using the power of design and my practice. Be it Films, Interviews, Performance, Body, Research, Interactive Installation or Thought provoking design pieces, I use design tools in various capacities to communicate the essence of the project to the people in getting the desired outcome.


Why

There is often a huge gap between systematic planning and its execution, between government policies and practice, between individual intentions and actions. In the context of present times, the systems that we interact with as humans, by forming various relationships, needs certain degree of sustainable transition. 
For example, How we interact and act with Food Delivery riders around us, tells a lot about our relationship as a society with the platform economy workers. It also tells how this system is responsible for precarious working conditions for its workers. Another example being, how often does the Bureucractic policies, successfully bridge the gap between policy and practice, to avoid target communties suffer ?
In simple analogy, 20th century Design was used as a method to develop industrial structures and tools. But today we face challenges that requires design to facilitate collective rethinking and restructuring of various societal systems in transition.

  
 
How

I begin my work mostly with a Question, which guides my process throughout. Then using research & action / societal led strategies, as a medium to communicate, I work around those questions encircling the given issue. Using multidisciplinary approach, meaning I work with multiple partners and stakeholders, for examples, Social Scientists, Biologists, Bureucratic and Technological experts, Health experts, Community leaders, Team leaders and etc on projects together. Working together with clients and target communities, I explore new methodologies and approaches for future scenarios. I also work towards imagining and creating new relationship within the societal structures, systems and procedures.