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Research Article
Open Access

Abstract: The delivery of social healthcare services is transitioning from a focus on curative measures to a more proactive approach prioritizing social health promotion. A Health Promoting Hospital (HPH) would ideally evolve beyond the conventional hospital roles of treating illness and managing chronic conditions, encompassing prevention strategies and actively fostering the overall health and wellbeing of patients and community members both within and outside the hospital setting.

In terms of design application within Chinese Health Promoting Hospitals (HPHs), existing studies indicate that hospital management often regards design as a final stage solution rather than embracing a design research perspective that comprehensively and holistically influences the entire process. One approach for all-mass media and graphic design are primary communication approaches for health promotion: marginalized and vulnerable groups are, however, excluded in this approach.

This research proposes three all-encompassing design-thinking frameworks—designerly ways of knowing, thinking, and doing HPH—which serve to enhance the accessibility and inclusivity of design ontology, epistemology, and methodology within the context of Chinese HPH. These design frameworks aid Chinese HPH practitioners in understanding and applying a systematic and holistic view of design thinking for HPH implementation. The ultimate objective is to transform Chinese HPH stakeholders’ understanding of design from a focus on the concrete to the abstract, and from a partial to a more comprehensive perspective within the health promotion context.

This paper provides a showcase on how a comprehensive framework can be constructed through thorough exploration and integration of theoretical and practical aspects across design and non-design domains. It also identifies the three types of design frameworks, offering researchers a valuable resource for understanding the typology of design framework, guiding the development methods of effective design frameworks tailored to research objectives.


Keywords: Design thinking in health promotion; Design frameworks; Health Promoting Hospital

Wenbo Ai        *

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Abstract: This paper provides a comprehensive examination of a design philosophy pioneered and institutionalized by the National Institute of Design (NID) in India. It is argued that for a nation as complex and multifaceted as India, a successful design methodology must be inherently linked to its distinct cultural heritage, economic realities, and foundational ethical principles. The analysis begins by exploring the profound influence of Gandhian philosophy—particularly its tenets of simplicity, self-reliance (swadeshi), and decentralized “production by the masses”—on this design framework. The paper then systematically delineates the core pillars of Societal Design: the promotion of indigenous innovation, the application of frugal engineering principles, and the strategic empowerment of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and the traditional crafts sector. By analysing NID’s role as a trans-disciplinary Centre of Excellence, this research demonstrates how Societal Design transcends conventional commercial objectives, positioning itself as a potent and people-centric catalyst for inclusive growth and sustainable national development.


Keywords: Societal design; Sustainable development; Inclusive development; Developmental framework
Open Access
Research Article

Shashank Mehta *

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Keywords: Post-growth innovation; Mindful design; Techno-empathy; Speculative fabulation; Discursive design
Open Access
Research Article

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Dominika Sobolewska *

Abstract: Success in the 20th century was measured through the prism of unceasing progress. Such dynamics shaped a specific type of population: a hyper-society, which is the result of “multiplying innovation by increased activity, speed of communication, and social interpellations.” Unfortunately, innovation, which defines the hyper-human, seen from the perspective of ecological economics, blindly echoes the idea of economic growth, which leads us to so-called creative destruction. It is a negative force that has separated us from nature, making us fatter, sadder, and more tired. Therefore, there is an urgent need to redefine the concept of successful innovation—a need to revise innovation as a paradigm based on the idea of productivity and profit.

The tool to fulfil this mission can be design, which is today considered the most important factor of economic and cultural exchange. Hacking the growth-oriented image of design, the author associates it with post-growth innovation, strongly related to ethics, the environment, and society. She presents the activities of the Mindful Design Studio (MDS) of the Wroclaw Design Academy, an interdisciplinary platform with an experimental approach that combines design, simple interactive technologies, and socio-ecological awareness. The main catalyst here is techno-empathy, as well as design as a kind of speculative fiction, expressing disapproval of consumer reality, referring to mindfulness, critique, fiction, and prototyping of the future.

The studio believes in the potential of unconventional imaginaries for technological innovation. Rather than reinforcing the traditional nodes between progress and economic growth, prototypes from MDS demonstrate how innovation can be oriented toward supporting collective well-being, environmental responsibility, and more inclusive forms of techno-engagement. Such an approach not only critiques conventional growth-oriented innovation but also envisions creative constructions of integrating technology into society that prioritize care, reflection, and sustainability.

Abstract: This paper examines Community Data Empowerment (CDE) as a framework for supporting marginalized slum communities to use data in ways that drive locally led problem-solving and innovation. While open data initiatives often fail to reach or empower low-income neighborhoods due to resource barriers and technical complexity, many marginalized slum communities are in fact digitally connected and eager for relevant, actionable information. Focusing on the Campana-Altamira community in northern Mexico, this study uses workshops and school-based activities with teenagers to explore motivational patterns through participatory behavioral profiling and speculative mapping. Students’ short essays about role models were analyzed using thematic coding and automated tools such as Apply Magic Sauce and Large Language Models Artificial Intelligence (ChatGPT), revealing diverse motivational archetypes including Achievers, Competitors, Socializers, and Explorers. Rather than treating these profiles as fixed categories, the study uses them as design heuristics for tailoring data communication strategies that align with local values and preferences. This includes developing narrative, visual, and interactive formats that make data more engaging, relatable, and actionable.


The findings suggest that effective CDE requires more than attractive visuals or technical dashboards. It demands participatory, context-sensitive design that respects local motivations, provides clear pathways to act, and offers incentives for collective problem-solving. By centering community voices and creating tools that invite meaningful engagement, CDE can help seed grassroots innovation, strengthen local governance, and empower residents as agents of change.





Keywords: Community data empowerment; Marginalized communities; Data communication; Local innovation; Local governance
Open Access
Research Article

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Savira Aristi        *, Hisa Martinez Nimi , Juan Carlos Chacon Quintero , Alejandro Martinez Baca , Kenta Ono