Design for empowerment: Approaches and tools for strategic impact

Abstract

Empowerment has long been regarded as a transformative force in design for social change. However, over time, it has been institutionalised, co-opted, and diluted by market-driven design approaches, reducing its impact and strategic potential. Design for Empowerment: Approaches and Tools for Strategic Impact revisits this concept in the context of the post-Anthropocene era, where escalating social and ecological injustices challenge conventional design practices. Edited by Laura Santamaria and Ksenija Kuzmina, this book critically examines how empowerment is understood, practiced, and evaluated in design today, making it more relevant to those who need it most. It provides a collection of essays and case studies that explore emerging theories, methodologies, and tools for Design for Empowerment, drawing on the experiences of design researchers, activists, and social practitioners working toward justice and systemic change. By foregrounding power analysis, participatory design, feminist and decolonial approaches, and climate justice, this book offers a range of strategic approaches for embedding empowerment into design-led social transformation. It aims to inspire a new generation of designers by providing both theoretical insights and practical methodologies, ensuring that empowerment becomes a deliberate and central objective rather than the incidental outcome of design practice