Design for the New World

'The book is driven by a strong ethical agenda regarding design’s responsibility and role in social development. [...] Engholm’s book is a lengthy defence of design thinking and design methods’ particular relevance in addressing hypercomplex sustainability challenges.[...] To me, the strength of the book thus lies in its precise identification of the way the Anthropocene and the development of the concept of design raise fundamental questions about design’s role and responsibility, and one can only have respect for the impressive amount of knowledge that is synthesized in the book and the author’s willingness to think about it in relation to practice. With the inclusion of critical and speculative design, Engholm shows in the book how the Anthropocene opens a space of possible futures that demand democratic debate through collaborative processes, but which are increasingly limited by the consequences of our choices for the environment we ourselves create.'

-- Niels Peter Skou, Formkraft: Journal for Crafts & Design

Clarity, insight and hope for the future: what’s not to love about this book?

-- Kate Fletcher * Professor of Sustainability, Design, Fashion, University of the Arts London *

Change is everywhere and change is apparent in our time. The world is going through faster cycles of change than ever. The uncertainty levels are exploding and the horizons for classic planning are shrinking. Ida Engholm has written a book about how design fits into this new reality. She brilliantly shows us patterns, red threads and clues for bringing clarity and vision through design. Her astonishing overview across the field of idea history, philosophy and design academics are mixed with actual, practical models and examples. I can highly recommend this book to leaders and designers across the world who wonder how we can make the field of design a key strategic pillar in adopting to the new reality of this time.

-- Michael McKay, Head of Ørsted Design Center of Excellence, former Head of Global Design, PayPal

Ida Engholm has written a beautiful, insightful and inspirational book. What more could you ask for? Not only is this a significant design book, but it is also a striking and hugely motivational leadership book. Design for the New World offers one of the most compelling messages about how we can and how we must design, to achieve a new, sustainable and more just world.

-- Steen Hildebrandt, Professor Emeritus of management studies at University of Aarhus and and associate professor at Copenhagen Business School

This epic book offers a paradigm-shifting solid and tangible guide to all interested in being part designing a flourishing, thriving, regenerative world that aligns with the design principles of our magnificent planet. It gives the reader plenty of delicious nutrients to be able to design and dream into existence radical new design-thinking, doing and being. This book is truly a ground-breaking design guide that I deeply hope will be embedded in curriculums all over the world. It has to if we want to stand a chance.

-- Laura Storm, founder of Regenerators, World Economic Young Global Leader and co-author of Regenerative Leadership

A new dimension of design that emphasizes environmental and climate concerns has emerged. Design practice and design thinking are no longer operated in silos but closely connected to sustaining the planet we live in. Ida Engholm’s Design for the New World is one of the first design theory books that presents aholistic perspective of design and design thinking. This inspiring book demonstrates the focus of design being shifted from products to the planet – the greater whole that involves not only the environment but also the core values of being human in the complex world.

-- Dr. Nithikul Nimkulrat, Associate professor and acting chair material art and Design, Canada

'Engholm (Royal Danish Academy, School of Design) theorizes the book as a manifesto, witness her proclivity to promote a radical change in the way people live, design, and think about their space and place in the world. She thinks of design not as an individualistic work but in terms of the world at large. Each of the book's six chapters relies on different models and prototypes to define and reconsider sustainable practices. These can be made manifest if designers focus on the informed and transformative practices the author highlights. This book is a call to arms to question assumptions, heed past wisdom, and respond to the environmental crises of the present time.'

-- L. E. Carranza, CH