Beyond the Object: Product and Furniture Design as Critical and Social Practice

In recent years, the field of design has faced a growing set of challenges. We present a series of student-led case studies examining how interdisciplinary and socially engaged design pedagogies can expand the role of the designer. Set within a multicultural studio context, students are encouraged to approach design as a critical and collaborative form of enquiry, foregrounding contextual awareness, positioning making as a vehicle for social awareness. Case studies reveal projects that develop critical design sensitivities, exploring the minutiae of everyday interactions through multimodal data collection and qualitative analysis. Situated examination of lived experiences and a re-evaluation of how artefacts might represent identity, culture, and technological values through function, materiality, and social meaning. It is understood that design should solve problems by drawing upon diverse methods and perspectives. High school programmes introduce social awareness, though they often lack the capacity to develop skills. STEM has increased emphasis on technical skills without integrating socio-cultural reflection. Pedagogical programmes presenting diverse approaches, systems, and contexts equip undergraduates with tools to generate new insights. This approach repositions the designer as facilitator, listener, and co-creator rather than as auteur.