Society. Spaces. Screens

Abstract

This work explores how design education can address complex societal challenges, particularly focusing on suicide prevention through a blend of hands-on approaches and digital innovations. Our approach uses design thinking as a transformative medium to foster empathy, emphasizing creativity, collaboration, and social change. By integrating these principles into pedagogy, we guide students in creating immersive, design-led installations, transforming personal stories into powerful visual narratives. This process nurtures inclusive learning environments and encourages open dialogue around mental health, prompting students to reflect on their roles as engaged citizens and creatives. A key aspect of our work is community engagement, where students collaborate with mental health professionals and connect directly with diverse audiences, including Native American communities deeply impacted by high suicide rates. These interactions create a meaningful bridge between student work and the broader public, fostering conversations about mental health and offering messages of support. Through these experiences, the project creates a space for empathy and understanding, expanding the reach and impact of design communication. By fostering cross-institutional collaboration and employing innovative methods, our work demonstrates design’s potential to transcend creativity—it becomes a catalyst for empathy, dialogue, and positive social change. This approach keeps design education accessible and impactful, empowering students to become empathetic problem-solvers in a rapidly evolving world.