Thirteenth International Conference on The Constructed Environment

Abstract

The aim of this study is to establish whether interior design practitioners see social innovation as a tool for more socially responsible design and whether they have engaged in social innovation and socially responsible design in their practice. The research followed an exploratory qualitative research approach positioned in the interpretive paradigm. The research used semi-structured participant interviews and thematic analysis to explore in-depth insights into the perspectives and experiences of thirteen South Africa-based interior designers and their perceptions of social innovation integration for socially responsible design. Five themes emerged in the data analysis guided by the conceptual framework: Social Problem Identification, Interior Design Process, Social Innovation Process, Socially Responsible Design Process and Social Value. Although the participants’ comprehension was at times muddled, the aggregate of their perceptions demonstrated a general grasp of what social innovation and socially responsible design are. Of the advantages of integrating social innovation for socially responsible interior design communicated by the participants, the most significant was the change in collective expectations of interior design by the general public and other business professionals. The participants shared that social innovation would favour the discipline by demonstrating to the public and other practitioners that it was about more than shallow design aesthetics. Interior design is, however, about substance and complicated problem-solving.