Good Interventions Design Exhibition Showcases Innovative Projects that Address Pressing Issues
While it might seem like a design competition that celebrates professional practice, social scientific research, and design methods would be commonplace, linking the three is rarely done, which makes the Good Interventions exhibit all the more unique.
Presented by the School of Design Strategies at Parsons School of Design, the annual Good Interventions competition receives submissions from around the world, where a jury of experts in economic and strategic design then decide on winners to include in an exhibit. This year, more than 125 designers submitted their solo or collaborative projects for consideration, and 15 were selected as winners.
“While the winning projects are diverse, a few overarching themes emerge,” says Koray Caliskan, Curator of the exhibit and a Professor of Strategic Design and Management at Parsons. “Many address geographies of injustice or inefficiency, while others focus on environmental concerns. A unifying element among these works is their rejection of design as solely a practice of expertise. Instead, they embrace design as a collaborative process—a collective act of making where designers work with communities to create meaningful outcomes.”
This year’s winning projects include an exploration of sustainable burial grounds and practices, a website that allows people who menstruate to visualize and and describe their menstrual pain, an electronic build kit that allows people to collaboratively build a solar light and radio while sharing their experiences of disasters, and many more.
“The exhibition and competition directly support Parsons’ goals,” explains Caliskan. “They are global tools we use to pursue the objectives outlined in our mission and vision statements. In essence, our work combines art, design, and science in innovative ways to create a more equitable and sustainable world.”
The designers who participated in the competition not only worked collaboratively in teams, but also sought to make connections within specific communities, and developed bold, innovative ideas that seek to create positive change.
“We worked together closely, leveraging each team member’s unique skills and perspectives,” shares Chloe de Montgolfier, Parsons MS Strategic Design and Management, and one of the winning designers. “We had regular brainstorming sessions to generate ideas, and we used digital tools to collaborate remotely. We also conducted interviews and extensive research on sustainable burial practices, local regulations, and the ecological impact of traditional cemeteries. By combining our diverse backgrounds in design, social science, and more, we were able to develop a comprehensive and innovative proposal.”
Since its start, the competition has grown in size, with more designers applying each year than the year before. Participants applied from across the globe, while judges came from a variety of universities as well as other schools within The New School.
The interdisciplinary foundation of the competition highlighted the designers unique approaches to their issues, while also showcasing the power of a 21st century design education.
“Designers are trained to think critically, creatively, and empathetically,” says Montgolfier. “We have the ability to identify complex problems, generate innovative solutions, and communicate ideas effectively. By combining aesthetic considerations with functional and social needs, designers can create meaningful and impactful solutions. Our project demonstrates how design can address pressing social and environmental issues, such as sustainable death care and urban green space preservation.”