Design Materials and Making for Social Change 1st Edition

Grab attention with a book that puts design tools where they matter most: in communities seeking change. Design Materials and Making for Social Change, 1st Edition is a practical, visionary guide for designers, educators, community organizers, and social innovators aiming to turn material thinking into measurable impact.

Explore clear frameworks and real-world approaches that connect materials, making, and social purpose. This edition maps how choices in textiles, low-cost fabrication, and locally sourced materials influence equity, sustainability, and resilience in neighborhoods, schools, health centers, and city projects—from North American cities to communities across Europe, Africa, and Asia. Readers will find adaptive methods for participatory co-design, inclusive prototyping, and context-aware material selection that respect culture, budget, and environment.

Imagine running workshops that yield durable, beautiful solutions; designing public furniture that invites belonging; or scaling grassroots manufacturing that creates livelihoods. The book translates theory into step-by-step practices, illustrated case studies, and decision-making checklists that help teams reduce waste, lower costs, and maximize community benefit.

Whether you’re a student, practitioner, NGO leader, or civic planner, this 1st Edition equips you with the skills to bridge craft and policy, aesthetics and access. Practical, inspiring, and grounded in global examples, it’s a must-have resource for anyone committed to design for social impact.

Order your copy today to start shaping materials and making processes that truly serve people and place.

Note: eBooks do not include supplementary materials such as CDs, access codes, etc.