CTSB Compulsory Question 2
Week 12 encouraged us to explore how different design works relate to our own developing interests as designers. As a group of four, we examined four examples, with two relating to social engagement and two relating to traditions and lineages. My partner and I focused on the social engagement category. At first, I felt uncertain because other groups selected examples based on community projects, while our choices seemed different. I selected Soapbottle, a packaging concept where the container itself is made of soap. My initial worry was that our interpretation might be wrong, since our approach did not match the other groups. However, I later recognised that being different did not make our work incorrect. It simply reflected our perspective.
The concept of social engagement is broad and includes environmental responsibility, care, and collective wellbeing. Designers and sustainability researchers such as Manzini explain that social engagement also involves contributing to long term ecological resilience (Manzini 12). Soapbottle fits this idea because it responds to the harmful effects of single use plastics. It turns the packaging into part of the product itself, reducing unnecessary waste and encouraging more sustainable behaviour. By doing so, it challenges the expectations of everyday consumption. Papanek argues that designers carry ethical responsibility for the impact their choices have on society and the environment (Papanek 68). This idea helped me see why Soapbottle is a relevant example of socially engaged design.
This reflection also connects to Week 11, where we explored manifestos and personal design beliefs. During that week, I realised I often hesitate to share ideas in group settings. Bandura’s discussion of self efficacy explains that low confidence can reduce participation and risk taking (Bandura 23). In Week 12, I initially questioned my choice again, but eventually recognised that sustainability is not a separate issue from social engagement. Environmental concerns affect communities both now and in the future, which means that sustainable design is a form of care for others. Understanding this helped me contribute more confidently.
For the traditions and lineages category, our group analysed works that reinterpret cultural forms through contemporary practices. Scholars such as Craig and King note that design heritage involves carrying forward cultural memory while adapting it to present day contexts (Craig and King 41). Viewing these examples helped me understand that traditions can guide creative direction even when a design looks modern.
Overall, Week 12 strengthened my understanding of how design can communicate personal values. Soapbottle reminded me that sustainability is central to what I care about, and the traditions based designs reminded me that culture shapes creative meaning. Both categories helped me recognise that design is not just about solving problems but also about expressing identity and responsibility.
References
Bandura, Albert. Self Efficacy: The Exercise of Control. W. H. Freeman, 1997.
Craig, Leonie, and Emily King. Design and Cultural Identity. Thames & Hudson, 2019.
ipse ipsa ipsum. Furniture Collection Inspired by Southeast Asian Craft Traditions. ipse ipsa ipsum, 2020.
Manzini, Ezio. Design, When Everybody Designs: An Introduction to Design for Social Innovation. MIT Press, 2015.
Papanek, Victor. Design for the Real World: Human Ecology and Social Change. Academy Chicago Publishers, 1985.
Word Count: 455