Book review: Design for good: A new era of architecture for everyone

Abstract

‘Design for Good: A New Era of Architecture for Everyone’ written by John Cary deals with the general topic of social justice in the built environment with a focus on architectural interventions in marginalised communities. The book argues for public interest design and its main message is important and clear: architects can and should serve the public interest, and not only the interest of a privileged few. Everyone deserves good design. In the last fifteen years the proliferation of the social responsibilities of architects and designers is witnessed in the establishment of several important organisations and design firms emphasising social impact as central to their work. Despite following a positive trend, in the global scheme of things, this practice remains rare and is worthy of bringing to the attention of the wider design community and the general population. The book achieves several important objectives: It highlights new ways in which good design can have an impact on the lives of people, especially within deprived communities. It also makes an urgent appeal to designers and community organisations to embrace the principles of public interest design. Simultaneously, it emphasises the long way forward before the wealth of designers worldwide can be successfully tapped for the public good, and articulates a range of challenges for the future.