Design as Activism: Perspectives on Design for Social Change

The proceedings of the 2024 Design as Activism Symposium, organized by Institute of Design at Illinois Tech, gathers urgent and inspiring perspectives for designers committed to creating more equitable futures. Centered on the work of Chicago artists and designers, the book brings together partial transcripts from two keynote talks, three panels, six workshops, and six conversations, highlighting how creative practice intersects with activism in meaningful, collaborative ways. Across its pages, readers will encounter strategies for participation, power-sharing, and co-design; discussions of accessibility and disability justice; calls for environmental sustainability and access to clean air and water; and examinations of healthcare inequities in historically marginalized neighborhoods. Other themes include building community resources, expanding awareness of the built environment, sustaining democratic processes, and imagining more just, joyful futures. Alongside these reflections, the book offers practical methods and strategies that designers and students can begin applying immediately in their own work. Edited and designed by Jessica Meharry Published by Oro Editions, 2025 Softcover, 80 pages, b&w, 6 × 9 inches ISBN: 978-1-96-651546-3