The world we experience is the way it is—and must be the way it is—because we have made it so.
From theory of design to theory for design
Why is social communication a complementary element of contemporary design (practice, education, research)? The short answer is that everything is communication. A slightly longer answer: exist only what is communicated. At the Design Principles & Practices 2026 Conference (CGS | Rome) I presented a paper entitled “The Relevance of Communication Science in Design Practice and…
Design notes: design and communication
Contemporary design practice, both from the point of view of the literature on the subject and from simple observation of the creative sector market, is increasingly becoming the object of criticism, mainly in the context of the lack of clear answers to emerging social problems and civilisation challenges. Instead of a holistic and comprehensive approach…
Are we all designers? Based on a graduation lecture delivered at SWPS University in Wrocław, 27 June 2025.
At the Department of Graphic Design, where I have the pleasure of working, we often say that everything we see has been designed by someone. Contemporary reality is described by researchers using the acronym VUCA: Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity. This should come as no surprise if we look at a few facts about the…
Between Pedigrees and Mutts: A Scholar’s Journey
Recently, I was asked to prepare a brief summary of my academic work and contributions for CoDesign4Transitions doctoral candidates. When I began to think about how to present of my career, I struggled to find the right form. A mere chronology of degrees, publications, and positions felt insufficient, almost lifeless. Then I remembered how my…
Mariusz Wszołek 