Convivial aesthetic in social innovation: a nested framework from three projects in Milano

ABSTRACT

Social structures are increasingly becoming subject matters of design, because considered integral to service design, akin to interfaces, physical elements, and spaces. The paper explores the use of aesthetics to reshape social structures in social innovation. It delves into three social innovation projects in Milan, formulating the concept of ‘convivial aesthetic’, which refers to the design and creation of materials, interactions, social forms, and a sense of community that fosters autonomy, personal interdependence, and positive social change. The analysis of the projects is based on a framework consisting of four elements: material support, social interaction, ordinary social forms, and the sense of community.The latter is a crucial component of convivial aesthetic: by fostering a feeling of belonging and shared purpose, participants become part of a larger social community with collective goals. Designers use symbols, rituals, and events to strengthen this sense of community.The paper acknowledges the limitations of this framework, particularly its focus on smaller communities and the need for further exploration of larger societal structures. However, it highlights the value of convivial aesthetic in shifting the focus of design from physical objects to immaterial interactions and social forms, ultimately promoting positive social transformation.

KEYWORDS:

• Aesthetic
• conviviality
• service design
• social innovation
• social forms
• community

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. https://www.facebook.com/Nutrire-Milano-energie-per-il-cambiamento-186357474712947; https://www.facebook.com/mercatodellaterradimilano.

2. The full partnership is organised in two levels: a|cube (coordinator), Politecnico di Milano – Polimi DESIS Lab, Spazio Aperto Servizi, Fondazione Politecnico di Milano, Kilowatt mainly active on advanced training and experimentation; and Avanzi, Comunità del Giambellino, Dynamoscopio, Gruppo Cooperativo Cgm, PerMicro, active on the project start-up phase for scouting and community engagement.

3. See https://lascuoladeiquartieri.it/; https://www.facebook.com/lascuoladeiquartieri; and https://www.instagram.com/lascuoladeiquartieri/.