Thirteenth International Conference on Design Principles & Practices

Abstract

This research explores the use of social design approach in the process of interior design. Despite the existence of guidance and methods for interiors designed for functionality, aesthetics or marketing, there are a few guides given to interior designers whose purpose is to promote social activities, to form social groups, to create synergy in social communication and other cultural goals. The goal of focusing on social design is to pay attention to the cultural and behavioral needs of the community so interior designers can have a background role in the process of cultural development, the social and behavioral sustainability and achieving the self-actualization as indicated at the top of the Maslow Pyramid. Therefore, with literature review, analytic comparison of methodologies and interview with thinkers in the field of interior design and social design, a combinational methodology was suggested for use in interior design process with social design approach. The case study tests the proposed methodology of this research, which is the interior design of environment for student study circles. The proposed methodology is the result of an attitude that meets the attainment of the social goals set in responding to the meaning-oriented needs (defined by Frankel, the founder of logotherapy) of the society. Finally, the concept of meaning-oriented design is suggested for describing this meaning-oriented attitude to achieve goals of design for sustainable society, social design, and behavior change.