Design Arts for Social Impact

"Air Conditioner Harming the Planet" by Gary Taxali, a Canadian artist known for his retro-style pop art and illustrations.

Graphic Design. Interior Design. Fashion. Industrial Design. Creativity That Moves People.

Design artists shape culture, challenge norms, and build movements through their craft. How will you activate change today?

If you are a designer, here are ways you might harness your creativity and talents to inspire, mobilize and unite people around common causes:

  • Raise Awareness: Design is storytelling. Posters, digital graphics, public installations, and wearable statements can spark conversation and bring attention to pressing social issues. Well-crafted visuals make movements impossible to ignore.

  • Advocate for Change: Design carries influence. Through bold imagery, reimagined spaces, and cultural interventions, artists can push for policy shifts, challenge injustice, and amplify activist movements. Art demands accountability.

  • Promote Inclusivity: Representation is power. By creating work that reflects diverse perspectives, designers reshape narratives, celebrate marginalized voices, and challenge stereotypes—fostering a more inclusive world.

  • Challenge the Status Quo: Art disrupts expectations. Designers can push boundaries through unconventional materials, satirical visuals, and experimental concepts that provoke thought and redefine perspectives on culture and power.

  • Foster Community Engagement: Design thrives in collaboration. Community-centered projects bring people together, reflecting their stories and experiences. Whether through murals, shared creative spaces, or public interventions, design can mobilize collective action.

Raise Awareness

"Before I Die" is a global art project that invites people to reflect on death and share their personal aspirations in public. Originally created by artist Candy Chang in New Orleans after the death of a loved one, there are now more than 5,000 walls around the world. Photo by Trevor Cole.

Advocate for Change

In 1936, authorities accused Eva Zeisel of plotting to kill Stalin and arrested her after they found a pistol in her sewing machine. She fled to the United States in 1938 and used her designs to promote social justice, advocate for the rights of workers and support fair labor practices.

Promote Inclusivity

"I Wonder What It's Like To Be Dyslexic" by graphic designer Sam Barclay (himself dyslexic) invites others to understand what it feels like to live with dyslexia.

Challenge the Status Quo

Alexander McQueen offended and infuriated people with his theatrical, controversial fashion collections. His runway shows were immersive, multi-sensory experiences that engaged and moved people. “Give me time and I’ll give you a revolution,” he once said.

Foster Community Engagement

DesignTO brings people together to design a better future that is sustainable, just and joyful. As Canada’s largest non-profit design festival, the ten-day event features more than one hundred free events and exhibitions across Toronto.

Known for her commitment to sustainability and ethical practices, Stella McCartney designs collections that challenge the fashion industry's environmental impact. Her work promotes eco-friendly fashion and raises awareness about the importance of sustainable practices.

Victor Papanek  was a pioneer in sustainable and socially responsible design.
Dwell with Dignity started as a way for the interior design community to give back because it knows that good design is anything but frivolous.

Dwell with Dignity started as a way for the interior design community to give back because it knows that good design is anything but frivolous. It creates meaningful change.

Are you aware of a design artist who is mobilizing meaningful change in the world with their art form?