Design Has Continuously Innovated Society... Global Scholars Join 'Social Innovation Design' at Dongseo University Academic Conference

Affiliated Asia Future Design Institute, on the Theme of 'Sustainable Design for Social Innovation'

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] What continuously drives social innovation?

‘Design’ also plays a significant role. A profound academic conference themed on design that sustains innovation was held at Dongseo University. A world-renowned scholar also attended.

The Asia Future Design Institute and the Graduate School Department of Design at Dongseo University (President Jang Je-guk) held an academic conference for five days from the 7th to the 11th under the theme ‘Sustainable Design for Social Innovation.’

On the third day, the 9th, Ezio Manzini, a world-leading scholar in the field of ‘Design for Social Innovation’ and founder of the DESIS (Design for Social Innovation and Sustainability) Network, and Honorary Professor at Politecnico di Milano, was invited as the keynote speaker.

Along with the keynote lecture titled ‘Social Innovation and Design, Lessons and Prospects,’ Dongseo University’s DSU-DESIS Lab (presented by Professors Ahn Byung-jin and Lee Myung-hee) and China’s Tongji University’s Tongji DESIS Lab (presented by Professor Ni Minqing) presented the outcomes of projects involving local residents and industry-academia-government collaboration at the ‘DESIS Lab Forum 2021.’

Following this, eight universities from six Asian countries, actively operating DESIS Labs, gathered for the ‘ASIA DESIS Lab Network’ panel discussion.

They discussed various design activities and efforts for a bright future in Asia and the prospects ahead.

Additionally, the graduate course ‘Social Innovation Design’ (Professor Lee Yong-gi) was spotlighted, and research results conducted during the class were presented.

The week was filled with presentations from the SIG research group composed of graduate students, an open critique session on research results by master’s and doctoral students, and an academic seminar on design education.

Jang Ju-young, Director of the Asia Future Design Institute, introduced, “This is the sixth year that the Asia Future Design Institute and the graduate school have continued academic events in the form of a design festival at the end of each semester.”

Director Jang said, “Through the academic conference, students had the opportunity to explore the responsibilities and opportunities of design from the perspective of ‘social innovation and sustainability.’ Especially meaningful is that universities in Asia, sharing similar goals, gathered to explore the future of the Asian region and the role of design.”