During 2013-2015 I was working on the "Social Structure" research project. The aim was to define economic models for architects to work on social impact design. The research was conducted trough qualitative interviews with chosen professionals and combined with work periods of 3 months in 4 different practices focusing on social impact design. The blog Social Structure documents these interviews and the learning process throughout 2013-2015. The project is funded with Antti Nurmesniemi-grant from Asko foundation. Preliminary interviews were funded with a grant from the Finnish Association of Architects (SAFA) and Väinö Vähäkallio scholarship from Aalto University.
Encouragingly, on the website of Stanford Social Innovation Review John Cary writes how social impact design has become a major interest for donors and foundations "design has become a consistent topic of discussion across the philanthropic and social sectors."
"Leveraging their collective support, we hope to see a surge in design for a better world, where one day, impactful projects like Rwanda’s breathtaking Butaro Hospital are not the exception, but the norm."
