What is 5% Design Action?
5% Design Action is a social enterprise and social design platform where everyone is invited to invest just 5% of their spare time – yes, really – to contribute their expertise and skills to real social innovation projects. It is all about getting creative with design not only as a tool for visual aesthetics or functionality but as a way to solve problems and create real value. This initiative uses design thinking to deeply engage groups of people with important social issues, turning complex challenges into opportunities for development and growth. The project starts with research on pressing social challenges, then builds a platform to recruit cross-domain talents, followed by offering effective co-creation tools and guiding the development of solutions, before ultimately transferring the results to frontline organizations. It’s social design in action!
Main Benefits & Key Figures
Key figures and facts highlight the scale of impact achieved:
- Over 8000 industry professionals involved
- Over 100 innovative design concepts developed
- Collaboration with over 150 non-profit organizations
- Connections with over 10 international organizations
- Partnerships with over 30 public sectors and legal entities
- Over 50 media reports showcasing the work
Social Innovation in Action
The platform not only initiates social design actions but also promotes design testing and implementation. It brings together years of experience to select effective, feasible, and impactful social design concepts to be tested and introduced into the market alongside dedicated partners. There is also a strong focus on cultivating social design talent by offering courses that benefit enterprises, NGOs and NPOs, municipal governance, and even universities. The initiative employs design research methods that dive into customer profiles, pain points, and untapped opportunities, producing rich research reports that fuel innovation. With special projects like the ones for senior designers addressing global issues such as aging and declining birth rates, the act of designing a better future becomes a collective, innovative journey… a journey where every small step counts.
Promoting Sustainable Education & Innovation
One of the latest highlights is the registration for the 2025 Sustainable Education Action Selection project. This project welcomes enterprises, NPOs, public sectors, and K12 educational units to join forces and promote sustainable education development in Taiwan. Another exciting development is the launch of the first “Sustainable Textbook,” which was co-launched with Earth Solutions on June 5, providing free downloads for everyone. Adding to the list of achievements, 5% Design Action recently won the prestigious 2024 iF Design Award in the service design category, with recognition from an independent jury of international experts. These achievements feel like a breath of fresh air and underscore the innovative spirit of the platform.
Join the Movement
Everyone is invited to join the movement! There is an open call to become part of action projects, support good design, initiate personal action projects, or even become a long-term partner of the platform. The approach is geared toward collaborating and creating social innovations that not only solve problems but also make a tangible difference in society. It is an opportunity to engage in a dynamic ecosystem where design meets social purpose. The invitation is clear: jump in, collaborate, and be part of the change.
Innovative Projects and Community Engagement
Social Design Action also invests in cultivating creative thinking and interdisciplinary solutions through hands-on workshops and courses. The aim is to develop innovative DNA within organizations by integrating design into everyday problem-solving. From promoting health for the elderly to designing family-friendly workplaces, these initiatives touch on a variety of pressing social problems and turn challenges into learning opportunities. There is an emphasis on collaboration across diverse fields. This approach not only builds a network of creative professionals but also strengthens community bonds by fostering partnerships that cross conventional boundaries. It’s all about inspiring a culture of continuous improvement and mutual support.
Project Impact and SDGs
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being – Reflecting the focus on health initiatives and innovative long-term care projects.
- SDG 4: Quality Education – Through sustainable education actions and the launch of the “Sustainable Textbook.”
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure – Demonstrated by the innovative design research methods and the use of design for problem solving.
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – By collaborating with public sectors and initiating social design actions to improve local communities.
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – Evidenced by the broad network of industry professionals, international organizations, and partners.
A Catalyst for Change
Social design is more than just creating aesthetically pleasing products – it is a catalyst for change that transforms small actions into big differences. With a common belief that everyone has something valuable to contribute, 5% Design Action has paved the way for social innovation that matters. The platform’s initiatives, from research and design testing to talent cultivation and special projects for senior designers, illustrate a robust commitment to addressing current societal challenges. Through collaborations with a diverse array of partners, the project has created significant social impacts and continues to inspire change across various sectors. Small actions, when combined, can indeed lead to a big difference… and that is the very heartbeat of this innovative and inclusive social enterprise.
