Description
A call for design thinking that centers the planet over human desires.
In recent years, numerous fields have applied design principles to a variety of social challenges. Perhaps none of these are as critical as climate change. Design for the New World offers a paradigm shift in design and design thinking, away from a focus on human scales, needs, and wants. Instead, Ida Engholm advances a perspective that centers on the planet, one in which design aims to create a balanced coexistence between humans and other species.
To develop this new criterion, Engholm connects traditional design thinking with ongoing debates about the Anthropocene as well as innovative perspectives from systems thinking, systemic leadership, and indigenous practices. She responds to current discussions within design research about the role design can play in the sustainable transition, offering new methods and mindsets to handle the scale and complexity of the environmental crisis. Design for the New World presents concrete tools to turn these theoretical reflections into a transformative practice. Ida Engholm is professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Design. She is the author of Quick Guide to Design Thinking, among other books.
“Clarity, insight and hope for the future: what’s not to love about this book?”
“Change is everywhere and change is apparent in our time. The world is going through faster cycles of change than ever. The uncertainty levels are exploding and the horizons for classic planning are shrinking. Ida Engholm has written a book about how design fits into this new reality. She brilliantly shows us patterns, red threads, and clues for bringing clarity and vision through design. Her astonishing overview across the field of idea history, philosophy, and design academics are mixed with actual, practical models, and examples. I can highly recommend this book to leaders and designers across the world who wonder how we can make the field of design a key strategic pillar in adopting to the new reality of this time.”
“Ida Engholm has written a beautiful, insightful and inspirational book. What more could you ask for? Not only is this a significant design book, but it is also a striking and hugely motivational leadership book. Design for the New World offers one of the most compelling messages about how we can and how we must design, to achieve a new, sustainable, and more just world.”
“This epic book offers a paradigm-shifting solid and tangible guide to all interested in being part designing a flourishing, thriving, regenerative world that aligns with the design principles of our magnificent planet. It gives the reader plenty of delicious nutrients to be able to design and dream into existence radical new design-thinking, doing, and being. This book is truly a groundbreaking design guide that I deeply hope will be embedded in curriculums all over the world. It has to if we want to stand a chance.”
“A new dimension of design that emphasizes environmental and climate concerns has emerged. Design practice and design thinking are no longer operated in silos but closely connected to sustaining the planet we live in. Ida Engholm’s Design for the New World is one of the first design theory books that presents aholistic perspective of design and design thinking. This inspiring book demonstrates the focus of design being shifted from products to the planet—the greater whole that involves not only the environment but also the core values of being human in the complex world.”
