I am interested in areas that advocate for social change through projects. Thus, it is clear that the fields of design activism and socially responsible design are thought-provoking fields of research for me. I have already collected some material on these, which I will share with you in my blog articles.
The two directions of design activism and socially responsible design share corresponding values, although the second approach appeared much later. (cf. Cetin, Aryana 2015, p. 1)
Even though, both of them have similar backgrounds they differ in the details:
[…] main drivers of DA can be listed as social, political and economic factors Activist design is an act of generating a broad range of proposals for society. It is relatively more concerned with policies, dynamics of economy and social climate such as consumerism, sustainability, economic contradictions etc. Yet, SRD is mainly driven by ethical, humanitarian issues and benefits of the less-favoured society. Social, environmental and economic issues can be obtained as the basis for both approaches. SRD responds to the defined needs of society such as social discrimination, poverty, insanitation, conservation of natural resources, inequality and less favoured groups of a society. SRD focuses on the needs of the smaller segments of society whereas DA compasses a wider scope which contains the smaller segments. Because DA addresses a wider scope of society, its impact period is longer than SRD activities, which have a narrower scope and direct implementations and outcomes. (ibid., p. 3)
Designers raise awareness for their values and beliefs through their work and try to promote social change with their projects, within these fields. Additionally, design activism can not only be implemented in the field of communication design, but also in other areas, e.g. architecture, product design, landscape design, etc. Of course, these aspects of shared values are also used by businesses to position themselves and get access into the world of their target consumers. Therefore, it can be seen from a more commercial perspective, where corporations show their values and expect their customers to share them. This makes their target groups view them in a more positive light and usually people that do not align with these principles will then change their shopping habits, if it goes against their personal beliefs.
The Sociology dictionary defines social responsibility as “[…] the ethical obligation of individuals, groups, or organizations to act for the benefit of society as a whole. It involves making decisions and taking actions that positively contribute to the welfare of the community, environment, and broader social systems.” (The Sociology Dictionary 2025)
Cambridge dictionary has a more corporate approach on this subject and mentions it being “the practice of producing goods and services in a way that is not harmful to society or the environment” (Cambridge Dictionary, n.d.). While this is true as well, it focuses only on the economic side, disregarding the aspects of social responsibility that also include individuals. To add to that, this is a very broad definition, since products usually harm the environment in some ways, even though they are maybe not intended to.
Activism on the other hand is defined as “the use of direct and noticeable action to achieve a result, usually a political or social one” (Cambridge dictionary n.d.). This seems to be much more straightforward, even though in activism it often takes a while to achieve the wanted change.
The other dictionary only has a contribution to environmental activism, which states that it
refers to organized efforts by individuals, groups, or movements to protect and preserve the environment by addressing ecological issues such as climate change, pollution, deforestation, and biodiversity loss. This activism encompasses a range of actions, including protests, policy advocacy, community organizing, and educational campaigns, aimed at promoting sustainable practices and environmental justice. In sociology, environmental activism is analyzed as a social movement that challenges existing power structures, corporate practices, and government policies that contribute to environmental degradation. It is often intertwined with broader issues like social inequality, as marginalized communities disproportionately face the consequences of environmental harm. Sociologists examine environmental activism to understand its role in shaping public awareness, driving policy change, and fostering collective responsibility toward sustainable development. (The Sociology Dictionary 2025)
To conclude, there are various definitions for activism and social responsibility and depending on the context these differ slightly. Clearly, both areas touch upon topics differently and while design activism shows longer lasting change, socially responsible design focuses on more specific topics, showing immediate change that usually does not last as long.
Sources:
Activism. In: Cambridge Dictionary n.d. URL: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/activism/.
Cetin, Özgür Deniz and Aryana, Bijan: An Analysis of the Influence of Design Activism and Socially Responsible Design Approaches on Design Education. Paris: Paris Descartes University 2015.
Environmental Activism. In: The Sociology Dictionary 2025. URL: https://thesociologydictionary.com/sociology-dictionary/e/environmental-activism/.
Social Responsibility. In: The Sociology Dictionary 2025. URL: https://thesociologydictionary.com/sociology-dictionary/s/social-responsibility/.
Social Responsibility. In: Cambridge Dictionary n.d. URL: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/social-responsibility/.
