Designing Entangled Social Innovation in Asia-Pacific Network (DESIAP)

Designing Entangled Social Innovation in Asia-Pacific (DESIAP) is a network of researchers and change-makers who share design, creative and social innovation practices to support collective capacity building and social impact.

The DESIAP Network was co-founded by our mutual curiosity about what kinds of design and social innovation projects are undertaken in the Asia-Pacific region and by whom, and a desire to create a platform for capacity-building and knowledge-sharing among those tackling systemic and complex challenges with their local communities.

DESIAP has hosted several international events in Singapore (2015), Thailand (2016 and 2022) and Malaysia (2017) together with many smaller gatherings around the world towards this collective effort.

Themes

The following themes reflect areas of expertise across the network. Members may work in several of these areas.

Inclusion and support

We have pioneered a transcultural women’s peer-mentoring program with participants in the creative sectors based in Australia, Japan, Thailand and Malaysia.

Building understanding through relationships

Our work celebrates heterogeneous practices of designing social innovation, rooted in places, cultures, histories and wisdoms of the diverse Asia-Pacific region.

Participatory methodology

We champion a participatory methodology. We have explored a propositional framework co-designed with practitioners and researchers for evaluative and reflective practices to understand social impact.

Network leads

A/Prof Yoko Akama
School of Design

Prof Joyce Yee
Adjunct Prof, School of Design


Theme leads

Inclusion and support

A/Prof Yoko Akama

Prof Joyce Yee

Prof Sarah Teasley

Yuko Kikuchi

Khemmiga Teerapong

Ko-Le Chen

Sarah Kushinsky

Hirotake Imanishi

Building understanding through relationships

A/Prof Yoko Akama

Prof Joyce Yee

Participatory methodology

A/Prof Yoko Akama

Prof Joyce Yee

Cyril Tjahja


Membership and contacting the DESIAP Network

DESIAP engages researchers and practitioners across the spectrum of design, art, craft, social innovation, business entrepreneurship and community development. Contact Yoko Akama yoko.akama@rmit.edu.au for more information.

Enabling Impact Platform (EIP) sponsorship

people crossing the road with a network pattern overlayed

DESIAP is supported by the following Enabling Impact Platforms:

Design and Creative Practice Applying an inventive, exploratory approach to real-world problems through interdisciplinary research, within and beyond design and creative practice.
Social Change Focuses on transformative research in the areas of digital society, quality of life, global mobility and research practice for social change.

Explore RMIT Enabling Impact Platforms

EIPs enable economic, environmental, societal, health and cultural impact with government, business and the community through research and innovation.

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.

aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.