Good Design and Doing Good

I always find myself intrigued by great design, particularly when it's combined with doing good. Whether it's Warby Parker's retro-inspired eyewear that gives back to those in need or studios like IDEO (which I am completely obsessed with btw), who are using technology and design to help non-profits do better. Here is an excerpt from an article in the The Chronicle of Philanthropy on one such effort titled "A New Trend in Design Can Help Charities Do Better Work."


"In the United States, studios like IDEO.org, Frog Design, and Adaptive Path have started applying these principles to nonprofits. IDEO.org recently worked with MyCollege Foundation on a service-design project with the goal of creating a new college experience that “resonates with the needs and motivations of both low-income students and employers.” The result was the innovative nonprofit Portmont College, designed to “teach what employers are looking for” and adding credentials like teamwork and “learning to learn” to students’ transcripts.

These same principles can be applied across a wide array of nonprofit challenges: a family that recently lost its home and is looking for a shelter, a first-time volunteer looking to help out at a soup kitchen but uncertain where to go, or a scared parent without health insurance looking for a free clinic. Think about those you serve, where they look for information, how they found out about your organization, and the steps they took to receive your services. What are the points in these processes that are scary, confusing, frustrating, or degrading? Service design can provide the framework to make these interactions much better."