SHAPING SOCIETY! SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH DESIGN
Conference
For all those who want to deal with or discuss topics of social sustainability.
The conference series "Shaping Society! Social Sustainability through Design" focused on practical solutions and examples from the field. Social sustainability in design means supporting people's skills and abilities in everyday life and the workplace, thereby strengthening competitiveness within companies.
Recording now available on YouTube
How can design contribute to a more inclusive and sustainable society? Our Shaping Society! (in German: Gesellschaft Gestalten!) conference in early December showcased visionary approaches and practical solutions. Engaging talks on inclusion, social sustainability, and circular innovations demonstrated how design tackles global challenges. From inclusive fashion and assistive tools for the visually impaired to digital accessibility – experts brought topics to the stage that leave no one behind.
Watch the event highlights (in German language) now on YouTube and get inspired!
Speaker
Auf Augenhoehe – Founder of fashion company for adaptive design
"Inclusive Design as a Driver of Social Sustainability"
Design as a Catalyst for Social Innovation: As the founder of the company “Auf Augenhoehe,” Sema Gedik has established herself as a pioneer in social and inclusive fashion by creating an inclusive sizing system, fostering strategic partnerships, and embracing innovative approaches. Sema Gedik firmly believes that long-term, collaborative partnerships are key to achieving sustainable change. She actively works with businesses and organisations to advance her vision of an inclusive fashion industry.
In her talk, she will explain how her company developed an innovative sizing system specifically for people with short stature. Additionally, she will demonstrate how this system can be adapted in the future to include other body types that have so far been overlooked by conventional sizing standards.
“Auf Augenhoehe” has already received multiple awards, including the Tommy Hilfiger Social Innovation Award, the Kultur- und Kreativpilotinnen Award, and the Hessnatur Innovation for Tomorrow Award.
Robert Bosch GmbH, Manager Digital Brand and User Experience, Corporate Design
"Aesthetics with a System: Using Design to Support Digital Accessibility"
"Technology for Life" at Bosch also means actively supporting inclusion for all.
With the digital design system, the foundation for the continuous optimisation of the company's digital touchpoints was laid several years ago. In his presentation, Jörg Heidrich demonstrates through concrete examples how the seemingly conflicting demands of legislation, branding, and visual impairments can be harmoniously integrated in an aesthetic way. He will highlight the importance of a systematic approach to design for scalability and discuss the optimisation processes that still lie ahead for the company.
Jörg Heidrich, Manager of Digital Brand and User Experience at the Robert Bosch GmbH headquarters, is responsible for the company’s visual brand presence across digital touchpoints and its digital corporate design.
Autistic with ADHD and mastocytosis, co-founder of gemeinsam zusammen e.V. and consultant
‘Making people with invisible disabilities visible’
Who are people with invisible disabilities, and what challenges do they face? Often overlooked, they encounter barriers that go far beyond the physical. In her talk, Rebecca Lefèvre introduces the “third dimension” of accessibility: invisible obstacles in daily life that can be mitigated through targeted measures. She focuses on solutions that are often easy to implement with a bit of knowledge and empathy.
After training as an advertising specialist and several years of professional experience as a consultant and coach in brand development and technical project management across various corporations, Rebecca Lefèvre became seriously ill in 2009. In 2020, she co-founded the organisation gemeinsam zusammen e.V. with fellow advocates, aiming to promote the 17 Sustainable Development Goals – primarily through art and culture, always with a non-preachy approach. Her current focus is on dismantling invisible barriers and fostering inclusion, particularly for individuals with non-visible disabilities.
wirDesign, Board of Directors and CFO, Human Resources and Organisational Development
"Orientation towards society is orientation towards the future"
As a certified Economy for the Common Good company, wirDesign integrates its commitment to societal responsibility and understanding of sustainability deeply into its corporate culture and business practices. In her presentation, Silke Parnack explains why taking on social responsibility is not an end in itself but enhances corporate value. Discover how economic success can go hand in hand with social and environmental responsibility.
Silke Parnack, a graduate in Business Administration, has been a member of the wirDesign executive board since 2020. As CFO, she is responsible for Finance, Human Resources, and Organisational Development.
whitecane. – Medical products for visually impaired and blind people, industrial designer and shareholder
"The white stick IO - sign and tactile instrument"
Tobias Stuntebeck trained as a carpenter and studied Industrial Design. In 2007, he founded the studio FOR INDUSTRIAL DESIGN together with his wife, Judith Stuntebeck. The studio works on behalf of various companies. In 2010, he co-founded the company whitecane. with Dr. Lüder Mosler and Dr. André Müller. The company develops, designs, and markets medical devices for people with visual impairments and blindness.
CEO German Design Council
Head of Division at the Hessian Ministry of Economics, Energy, Transport, Housing and Rural Areas
Director Institute for Design Research and Appliance – IfDRA
Stephan Ott is the Director of the Institute for Design Research and Appliance (IfDRA). The institute, which is based at the German Design Council, was founded in 2020 with the aim of providing a forum for all areas of design research. In this sense, the IfDRA sees itself as an interface as well as a cooperation and network partner for workshops, conferences and research projects. Stephan Ott has already moderated the conference in 2022 and 2023.
This conference is funded by the Hessian Ministry of Economics, Energy, Transport, Housing and Rural Areas as part of the ‘Promotion of cultural and creative industry institutions’ programme of the Hessian Innovation Fund.
Review of 2023 Conference
The speaker 2023
The Speakers 2023:
Tanja Godlewsky: Designer, lecturer at the Institute for Pop Music at Folkwang University of the Arts, founding member of the international Gender Design Network (iGDN)
Prof. Dr Caroline Günther: Architect, Professor of Barrier-free Planning and Building and Building Science; Head of the Master's programme Inclusive Design - Inclusive Architecture
Juliane Kühr: Product designer, German Design Graduates Award 2023: Winner of the Inclusion category
Barbara Lersch: Head of operational foundation projects, programme and funding series and Hans Sauer Prize, Hans Sauer Foundation
Kai Rosenstein: Founder of KRDK | Kai Rosenstein Designkultur
Moderation: Stephan Ott - Director Institute for Design Research and Appliance IfDRA
Review of 2022 Conference
“Where does the German design industry stand in social sustainability processes today?”
Only when ecological, economic and social measures are interlinked simultaneously and on an equal footing will the prerequisites for all-encompassing social sustainability be met. In the "Agenda 2030" formulated by the UN, further decisive, universal principles that call for a just and sustainable life are differentiated. Sustainable development of all these closely interlinked aspects is essential for a sustainable society.
Initial design processes are used in almost all areas - designers have a decisive role and influence in shaping a sustainable world of the future. The services and products they develop have a decisive influence on how we organise our lives and perceive our environment, how we participate in it and whether we have equal access to it.
While the economy and ecology are often at the centre of discussions about a sustainable future, the social factor, including diversity, access and inclusion, equal opportunities and cultural development, quickly fade into the background. However, social sustainability can only succeed if it is considered from the very beginning of the design process.
The focus of the 2022 conference covered a wide range of topics such as anti-racism and decolonisation, gender equality and inclusion. All presentations were based on the question "Where does the German design industry stand in processes of social sustainability today?". The event took place on 13 December 2022 at the Evangelische Akademie in Frankfurt am Main.
The Speaker 2022:
Prof. Dr. Tom Bieling, Professor of Design Theory HfG Offenbach – Design as part of the solution and the problem"
Prof. Dr. Esin Bozyazi, Vice President of the Institute for Social Sustainability e.V., Professor (IU) – "Social sustainability and digital transformation"
Christine Fehrenbach, designer and entrepreneur – "Gender Design - the Next Future?"
Prof. Nikolaus Hafermaas, Managing Partner, Creation | Graft Brandlab – "Ey dude! Intergenerational design as cultural change"
Mathias Knigge, Owner, Office for Inclusion & Demographic Solutions – Accessibility in Design for All - attractive added value instead of deficit-oriented special solutions"
Rolf Krämer, Hessian Ministry for Economic Affairs, Energy, Transport and Housing
Deborah Krieg, Education Officer of the Anne Frank Education Centre – "Racisms. Shapes. World."
Moderation: Stefan Ott, Director Institute for Design Research and Appliance – IfDRA | German Design Council