A THESIS PROPOSAL

by Vesna Pejović:

 

I live in the country of beautiful, hardworking and heartworm people.

I live in the society that strives in socio-political limbo between communism and neoliberal-capitalism, which makes people lost/lazy/selfish and crazy, marginalizing those in great need.

I intend to question can design thinking make a change, and create healthy working/living environment for those deprived.

In my exploration, I will examine this by juxtaposing “high end” to the “dead end”,

the design field with its glamour to hardship of marginalized members of society.

I intend to show that chosen context will define concept. I will explore the transformative power of design as a significant force in challenging everyday perceptions.

CONTEXT:

Serbia 2017; City of Arandjelovac; families of children with disabilities, in particular, mothers.

RESEARCH:

I contend that the social enterprise based on the creative industries principles, will improve social inclusion and the lives of people in need. Short-term, basic goals are working engagement of parents / guardians, primarily mothers of the children with disabilities, and establishing modern daily inclusive-creative center for children as mandatory. As long-term goals, I see the creating of similar systems with an emphasis on the integration of creative industry and social entrepreneurship as a good and sustainable model. This will contribute to sensibilizations of society to the needs of vulnerable groups, as well as to overall cultural and economic revitalization of the society and the improvement of the quality of life in whole.

The project aims to set up a healthy foundation and form a favorable atmosphere for establishing social entrepreneurships and creative industries on the territory of the municipality of Arandjelovac. The general plan is work in PROMOTION – CONNECTING – ESTABLISHING CONTINUITY OF OPERATION with the goal of informing and improving the local community, stimulating development and environmental consciousness, through the creation of a map of professional collaboration and stretching the boundaries of cultural identity.

The conceptual outline is presented as “The Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design”, Royal College of Art of London, UK – (plan was reviewed as exceptionally valuable, of high quality, and important for the development of the local community). In 2013, the NGO was founded and cooperation with the local government of the Municipality of Arandjelovac was established. At this time Networking on the local level started, through project “RadAR (inclusive educational-creative workshops and creative interventions in public city venues.” In 2015, we participated in the “Seminar for education of social entrepreneurs, establishment and management of social enterprises in the local community,” Forum of Youth with Disabilities, held by the “Papilot” Institute from Ljubljana. Cooperation with “InCentar” – Center for inclusion, innovation, and integration in Belgrade started in 2015. All mentioned institutes are contributors / mentors / partners in the development of this project, while the Municipality of Arandjelovac and the Association of Citizens “Deca u Srcu” are confirmed partners from the local community.

MISION: we design, develop, create, and manufacture products, services, venues, and interactive experiences to provide a better and more exciting everyday life.

VISION: we identify new ways of support for the families of disabled children, discovering their real behavior, needs and wants.

MAIN /

ALL for design/design for ALL: socially engaged design as a tool for solving the problem of social exclusion and improving the overall quality of life

ECONOMIC /

Sustainable design production: producing “high-end design” general consumer products, with an authentic appearance, superior craftsmanship based on local expression, innovative concepts and ecological principles.

SOCIAL/

01. WORK ENGAGEMENT/

a. Parents/guardians, primarily mothers, of children with special needs and disabilities

b. Young unemployed professionals

c. Unemployed over the age of 45

02. INCLUSIVE-CREATIVE DAY CARE CENTER/

a. Children with special needs and disabilities

b. Children from minority groups

c. Children from all groups under the age of 15

03. REVITALIZATION OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES/

a. Educational-creative workshops

b. Projects for the revitalization of city communities

c. Projects for the revitalization of rural communities

QUESTIONS for myself:

During last 5 years, I talked, listened, observed and I gathered information’s, trying to see as much of the real picture, now, that all need to be systematically explored, framed put in order to enable real results.  …there I wonder:

1. Will thinking design improve life here (Serbia) and now (limbo) in this society as it is today?

2. For those in need, can design really make a difference, taking into consideration this particular context, and opposing to local socio-political situation?

3. Does design field truly connects with socially challenged groups / marginalized / unemployed / disabled / inexperienced / disconnected and achieve results that in time to come will bring better life for all?

4. Will I really finish, or start finishing this never ending project of mine?

Orašac, 15.09.2017