Socio-technical design for resilience: A case study of analysing and designing for a resilient producers' network

Abstract

This paper presents selected findings from a doctoral study on how design could be used to construct a resilient community. It describes a framework for diagnosing the resilience of people's social networks and developing strategies for a resilient community based on the network theory. It goes on to outline the methodology and findings of a case study exploring the application of this framework in designing services around a farmers' market in Milan. Based on the analysis of the producers' collaborative networks, the paper explores the perceived feasibility of this framework as a preliminary stage to develop collaborative services. It concludes by commenting on the wider implications of the framework for the field of design for sustainability.