Skip navigation

Design and Social Innovation in Asia-Pacific Network

Case study: Design and Social Innovation in Asia-Pacific Network: Transforming professional identity, and evaluative practices for social impact.

Staff: Joyce Yee 

Western-centric and economically driven design methods are not equipped to support and evaluate impact arising from social innovation initiatives within non-Western cultures. They can inadvertently obscure, disrupt, or replace culturally specific practices and relationships during the design process. Research by Professor Joyce Yee of Northumbria University on culturally-specific design approaches helped establish the Design and Social Innovation in Asia-Pacific (DESIAP) network which has supported nearly 600 social innovation practitioners from 100 organisations in 14 countries. Yee’s research has enabled Asia-Pacific organisations such as Re:public (Japan) who were already using design methods to establish a stronger professional identity as design and social innovation (DSI) practitioners. Her work on evaluation approaches (for example with Impact Hub Phnom Penh) has helped transform the way organisations use evaluation and has resulted in improved social outcomes for the marginalised and excluded communities they serve. Find out more


Latest News and Features

Psychologists encourage Gateshead households to expand use of innovative heat networks
Jessica Whittle, Theatre and Performance BA (Hons)
Michal Špitálský, Film and TV Production BA (Hons)
2023 winner wheel
Lecturer to support Team GB medical needs at Special Olympics in Berlin
Northumbria appoints leading business figures as Visiting Professors
Crime scene
More events

Upcoming events

Grow Your Own – How To Attract, Develop and Retain a Talented Team.
Digital Asset Management – Data Saves Lives (and Money)
Northumbria alumnus John Mark Williams talks Future Readiness

Back to top