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What Is Design for Social Sustainability? A Systematic Literature Review for Designers of Product-Service Systems

Author

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  • Lucia Corsini

    (Institute for Manufacturing, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1TN, UK)

  • James Moultrie

    (Institute for Manufacturing, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1TN, UK)

Abstract

Social sustainability is concerned with the wellbeing and flourishing of societies now and in the future. Despite its importance, it has been largely overlooked compared with environmental and economic dimensions of sustainability. Additionally, although there is a longstanding history of design being used to tackle social and sustainability problems, the concept of design for social sustainability is not well-understood. In light of this, the current study aims to conceptually develop design for social sustainability. It specifically focuses on how this concept can be developed for the design of product-service systems. A systematic literature review of social design and sustainable design literature is conducted to synthesise fragmented knowledge on design for social sustainability. A total of 69 articles are analysed with respect to terminology, context, methods, focus and key themes. In doing so, it helps to summarise current knowledge and identify several promising areas for further research. In particular, it calls for additional contextual and place-based perspectives; development of appropriate metrics, methods and tools; and research on the linkages between design for social sustainability and existing sustainable design approaches and methods. This article contributes to knowledge in three ways: (1) it integrates disparate knowledge on design for social sustainability within the domain of product-service systems, (2) it defines design for social sustainability and makes progress toward operationalising the concept by identifying its key dimensions, and (3) it identifies current gaps in the literature and highlights areas for further research. This study is important for designers of product-service systems because it sheds a light on what is desirable and achievable.

Suggested Citation

  • Lucia Corsini & James Moultrie, 2021. "What Is Design for Social Sustainability? A Systematic Literature Review for Designers of Product-Service Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-18, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:11:p:5963-:d:561883
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rakhshanda Khan, 2016. "How Frugal Innovation Promotes Social Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-29, October.
    2. Joachim H. Spangenberg & Ines Omann, 2006. "Assessing social sustainability: social sustainability and its multicriteria assessment in a sustainability scenario for Germany," International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 1(4), pages 318-348.
    3. Lucia Corsini & James Moultrie, 2019. "Design for Social Sustainability: Using Digital Fabrication in the Humanitarian and Development Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-20, June.
    4. Nicola Morelli, 2012. "Design as a problem and design as a solution for sustainability," International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 6(3), pages 265-280.
    5. Kebede Manjur Gebru & Maggi Leung & Crelis Rammelt & Annelies Zoomers & Guus van Westen, 2019. "Vegetable Business and Smallholders’ Food Security: Empirical Findings from Northern Ethiopia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-28, January.
    6. Beate Littig & Erich Griessler, 2005. "Social sustainability: a catchword between political pragmatism and social theory," International Journal of Sustainable Development, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 8(1/2), pages 65-79.
    7. Garrette Clark & Justin Kosoris & Long Nguyen Hong & Marcel Crul, 2009. "Design for Sustainability: Current Trends in Sustainable Product Design and Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 1(3), pages 1-16, August.
    8. Tom Vavik & Martina Maria Keitsch, 2010. "Exploring relationships between universal design and social sustainable development: some methodological aspects to the debate on the sciences of sustainability," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 18(5), pages 295-305.
    9. Raghda El Ebrashi, 2013. "Social entrepreneurship theory and sustainable social impact," Social Responsibility Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 9(2), pages 188-209, May.
    10. Justus von Geibler & Christa Liedtke & Holger Wallbaum & Stephan Schaller, 2006. "Accounting for the social dimension of sustainability: experiences from the biotechnology industry," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 15(5), pages 334-346, September.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Georgi V. Georgiev & Vijayakumar Nanjappan, 2023. "Sustainability Considerations in Digital Fabrication Design Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-15, January.
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    5. Meng-Xun Ho & Hideyoshi Yanagisawa, 2023. "Design for Well-Being and Sustainability: A Conceptual Framework of the Peer-to-Peer Sharing and Reuse Platform in the Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-17, May.
    6. Wenxin Deng & Hong Lin & Mu Jiang, 2023. "Research on Bamboo Furniture Design Based on D4S (Design for Sustainability)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-17, May.
    7. Joana Costa & Diana Cancela & João Reis, 2021. "Neverland or Tomorrowland? Addressing (In)compatibility among the SDG Pillars in Europe," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-18, November.
    8. Mojtaba Ashour & Amir Mahdiyar & Syarmila Hany Haron, 2021. "A Comprehensive Review of Deterrents to the Practice of Sustainable Interior Architecture and Design," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-19, September.

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