Design x Technology Lecture: Andrew Shea

This lecture can be watched on campus or online.

The practice of design mirrors its time: reflecting societal values, technological advancements, and pressing challenges. From the evocative power of posters rallying social movements to the disruptive potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in redefining creative boundaries, design’s trajectory provides a compelling lens through which we can examine how innovation shapes society. In "Posters to AI: Shaping Trajectories of Design for Social Innovation," I will speak about the evolution of design for social innovation, focusing on how designers adapt to and critique emerging tools and methodologies to address complex societal issues—tracing the path from analog communication to automated systems. 

This talk will touch on the evolution of media, such as posters and physical artifacts before pivoting to the transformative role AI is playing in reshaping the creative process. Central to this exploration are the critical questions designers face: How can AI be integrated thoughtfully into creative practices without undermining human agency? How can we ensure equitable representation and inclusion in the datasets that inform AI systems? What strategies will protect originality and cultural authenticity in an era of generative design? And how can we interrogate the dual nature of AI—as both an empowering tool democratizing creativity and a disruptive force that risks diminishing human skill and ingenuity? Ultimately, Posters to AI seeks to inspire designers to harness their creativity and ethical sensibilities to shape the trajectory of innovation—prioritizing human dignity, equity, and sustainability in a rapidly changing world.

Participants will gain an understanding of how design has evolved, helping them connect historical approaches to modern challenges and position their work within a broader trajectory of social innovation. The lecture provides practical ethical frameworks to address pressing AI concerns like, bias, cultural authenticity, and human agency, and will equip designers to navigate the complexities of integrating AI into their creative processes.

This lecture is free and open to the public. As part of CoAD's Design x Technology Lecture Series, guests may watch online or on campus. Register for the location/viewing details. Your on-campus registration includes a pizza lunch.

About Andrew:

Andrew Shea is Associate Professor of Integrated Design at Parsons School of Design, and Associate Dean of Parsons' School of Design Strategies. His research has focused on the role that designers play in social innovation projects, place-based design’s role to produce behavior change, and the ethics of artificial intelligence. He is the founding creative director of MANY (manydesign.org), a communication and service design studio that designs physical spaces, collaborative experiences, and platforms to support creative communities and elevate civic, educational, and environmental initiatives.

Andrew has written extensively about the evolving field of design for social innovation and his most recent, co-authored book is Design for Social Innovation: Case Studies from Around the World (2021), which marks the first attempt to define the global contours of the cultural, economic, and organizational levers propelling design for social innovation forward today. His other publications include LEAP Dialogues: Career Pathways in Design for Social Innovation (2016), and he authored Designing for Social Change: Strategies for Community-Based Graphic Design (2012).

His design and writing has been featured by publications like Fast Company, Slate, Design Observer, 99 Percent Invisible, Core77, Slate, Print, Entrepreneur Magazine, How, Communication Arts, and Impact Design Hub. Andrew regularly speaks about design at schools, conferences, and at public events like TEDx. He has served as an advisor for various organizations and initiatives like Impact Design Hub and Human Impacts Institute, and on juries for Sappi Ideas That Matter, Design Ignites Change, Archinect, and the Center for Urban Pedagogy. Andrew received his MFA in Graphic Design from Maryland Institute College of Art.

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