Strategic Design for the Third Sector

This book discovers and demonstrates the strategic values of design within the context of the third sector, a domain characterized by inherent complexity and the objective of effecting positive transformations across both economic and social dimensions. Based on seven years of research, it combines theoretical insights with hands-on empirical studies, offering a compelling narrative on the evolving roles of strategic design in third sector organisations. Through an in-depth analysis of best practices and four action research projects, the book showcases how design enables third sector organisations to uncover opportunities, manage innovation processes, and facilitate meaningful collaboration among diverse stakeholders. At its core, it introduces a design framework to illustrate how a strategic design mindset, together with methods and tools, fosters stakeholder participation and co-creation in the innovation process, and how it inspires conversations and reflections on organizational and systemic changes. The framework also offers actionable strategies for design researchers and practitioners willing to apply strategic design for addressing complex societal problems through creativity, innovation strategy and a systemic lens.

Offers guidance for designing and developing solutions that integrate economic objectives with social responsibility Expands the scope of strategic design and design thinking, from the business sector to the more complex societal context Provides inspiration for future research agendas in strategic design, design management and design thinking

Autorentext

Xue Pei, PhD is assistant professor in strategic design and design management at the Department of Design of Politecnico di Milano, Italy. Her research mainly focuses on applying design (thinking) approaches and methods as a strategic catalyst for fostering innovation in organisations in both private and non-profit sectors. Particularly, her research interests are strategic design for responsible business, design for the third sector, and design for systemic transition. Currently, her work addresses the development of design-driven strategies to transform the furniture sector through servitization towards sustainability and circularity.

Inhalt

Introduction.- Strategic design and design thinking: driving business innovation and societal changes.- A need to introduce strategic design in the Third Sector.- Understanding the strategic design practices in Third Sector Organisations (TSOs).- Strategic design for value co-creation in the Third Sector: setting organisational encounters.- Visioning a future agenda of strategic design.