Design for Collectives: Rethinking design for collective being

About Design for Collectives: Rethinking design for collective being

We design by abstracting real people into manageable constructs to make the design processes easier. But with just this one lens, we lose sight of the collective context - the relationships, interconnections and impacts that shape how people live. Design for Collectives is a new podcast exploring what happens when we design in isolation, disconnected from the collective context where people actually exist and interact. Not to provide answers, but to open up conversations about what we might be missing and what might shift if we reframe design with collective contexts in mind. Hosted by Professor Sonja Oliveira (Associate Dean and Professor in Architecture and Sustainability Design Innovation, University of Strathclyde) and Anna Chatzimichali (Associate Professor in Engineering Design, University of Bath), each episode features designers, researchers and practitioners wrestling with these questions in their own work, bringing their provocations, uncertainties and emerging thinking into the open. You'll hear honest conversations with designers navigating collective complexity in real projects: How do you design when the “user” is actually multiple interconnected groups with competing needs? What happens when you try to account for relationships and collective dynamics, not just individual interactions. Where do our methods fall short and what are people experimenting with instead? Episodes bring together perspectives from architecture, engineering, urban planning, service design and beyond, not to create a unified approach, but to understand how different fields are grappling with similar tensions. Expect practical examples alongside unresolved questions, emerging thinking and reflections on what collective design might actually entail. This is for anyone whose work touches collective life: Designers across any discipline (architecture, engineering, product, UX, service, systems), practitioners in healthcare, transport, energy, retail and public services, researchers, educators, policy makers, and anyone curious about how design shapes the way groups of people live, work and thrive together. The conversations are international, accessible and assume familiarity with design practice without oversimplifying the challenges. This podcast is for people who want to think more carefully, not more simply, about collective design. Sonja Oliveira, University of Strathclyde - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-sonja-dragojlovic-oliveira/ Anna Chatzimichali, University of Bath - https://www.linkedin.com/in/annachatzimichali/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Publisher

Sonja Oliveira & Anna Chatzimichali

Category

arts · business · education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

15 Feb 2026

Latest episode

15 Feb 2026

Latest episodes

8 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   15 Feb 2026

   Design for Collectives — In Conversation with Matt Ford: Inclusive Design in Practice

   In this guest episode of Design for Collectives, host Anna Chatzimichali, Associate Professor of Engineering Design at the University of Bath, is joined by Matt Ford, industrial designer at Designability, a UK charity developing life-changing products for disabled children and adults. Designability’s work spans everything from adapted pushchairs for disabled parents to powered wheelchairs for children, as well as research into how vehicles and electric charging infrastructure can better serve disabled communities. With a background working for major manufacturing brands including Dyson and Airbus, Matt brings deep industry experience alongside a commitment to inclusive, user-centred design. This conversation explores how thoughtful design can remove barriers, expand independence, and ensure that emerging technologies, including those shaping the energy transition, work for everyone. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

2. 

   15 Feb 2026

   Design for Collectives — In Conversation with Kathy Peach: Collective Intelligence for Social Change

   In this guest episode of Design for Collectives, host Sonja Oliveira, Associate Dean and Professor in Architecture and Sustainability Design Innovation at the University of Strathclyde, is joined by Kathy Peach, Director of the Centre for Collective Intelligence Design at Nesta, the UK’s innovation agency focused on delivering social change. Kathy’s work explores how collective intelligence, combining human knowledge, data, and technology, can help tackle complex global challenges. She is the lead author of the Collective Intelligence Design Playbook and works in partnership with organisations including the United Nations Development Programme and the International Federation of the Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies. Drawing on a career spanning international development, public health, disability advocacy, and global policy, this conversation explores how collective intelligence can shape better decision-making, more inclusive systems, and new approaches to social innovation. A thought-provoking discussion about collaboration, technology, and designing solutions that work at scale. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

3. 

   15 Feb 2026

   Design for Collectives — In Conversation with Roberto Cavallo: Architecture, Cities, and Collective Futures

   In this guest episode of Design for Collectives, host Sonja Oliveira, Associate Dean and Professor in Architecture and Sustainability Design Innovation at the University of Strathclyde, is joined by Roberto Cavallo, Associate Professor in the Department of Architecture at the Faculty of Architecture & the Built Environment at Delft University of Technology, and President of the European Association of Architectural Education. With a career spanning both academic research and professional practice, Roberto explores how architecture can help shape the future in a time of rapid urban and environmental change. His work focuses on the evolving role of design across disciplines, the transformation of cities, and the social and environmental challenges shaping public space today. From mobility infrastructure and urban transitions to sustainable and inclusive city-making, this conversation explores how architects can work collaboratively, alongside communities, policymakers, and other disciplines, to respond to the climate crisis and the energy transition. A wide-ranging discussion about design, responsibility, and the future of our shared urban environments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

4. 

   15 Feb 2026

   Design for Collectives — Mini Episode: People Power and the Future of Energy Flexibility

   In this mini episode of Design for Collectives, Sonja Oliveira, Associate Dean and Professor in Architecture and Sustainability Design Innovation at the University of Strathclyde, brings the series together to explore why people and relationships are the real drivers of energy flexibility. Reflecting on the journey so far, this episode revisits the core ideas behind flexible energy use, the contrast between proactive and reactive energy managers, the limits of top-down policy, and the powerful role of social identity in shaping behaviour. Across neighbourhoods in Bristol and Glasgow, research shows that when people feel connected to their communities, they are far more likely to adapt their energy use, support others, and act collectively. Energy flexibility becomes not just a technical solution, but a shared social practice. The message is clear: building a resilient, fair, and sustainable energy system means designing with communities, not just for them. Because when people feel connected to each other and to a shared purpose, energy flexibility becomes a collective achievement. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

5. 

   15 Feb 2026

   Design for Collectives — Mini Episode: Energy Is a Social Value

   In this mini episode of Design for Collectives, Sonja Oliveira, Associate Dean and Professor in Architecture and Sustainability Design Innovation at the University of Strathclyde, explores why energy use is shaped as much by social identity as by technology. While energy policy often focuses on smart devices, efficiency, and cost, this episode looks at the social forces behind everyday decisions. Drawing on Social Identity Theory and research into community energy behaviour, Sonja explains how belonging, trust, and shared norms influence what people see as responsible energy use. From neighbourhood solar projects to everyday household routines, energy practices are embedded in relationships, habits, and collective values. When people identify with their community and trust those around them — they are more likely to engage in energy transitions and adopt flexible behaviours. Designing effective energy systems means recognising the social reality of how people live, connect, and make decisions, not just how much energy they consume. Next time: People power; the real drivers of energy flexibility. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

6. 

   15 Feb 2026

   Design for Collectives — Mini Episode: The Myth of the Passive Consumer

   In this mini episode of Design for Collectives, Anna Chatzimichali, Associate Professor of Engineering Design at the University of Bath, challenges one of the energy sector’s most persistent assumptions that consumers are passive, uninformed, and need incentives to change. As smart meters, electrification, and flexibility programmes reshape how households interact with the grid, most policies still rely on top-down behaviour change. They assume people just need more information or financial motivation. But research tells a different story. Anna explains why households are already actively managing energy, especially when they feel socially connected within their communities. Rather than treating people as passive recipients of policy, this episode argues for a bottom-up approach that starts with real social relationships and everyday practices. Understanding how communities function could help policymakers target investment more effectively, design systems that reflect real behaviour, and accelerate the transition to net zero. Because energy flexibility isn’t just a technical challenge, it’s a social one. Next time: Energy as a social value. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

7. 

   15 Feb 2026

   Design for Collectives — Mini Episode: Reactive vs Proactive Energy Managers

   In this mini episode of Design for Collectives, Anna Chatzimichali, Associate Professor of Engineering Design at the University of Bath, explores the difference between reactive and proactive energy managers — and why this distinction matters for the low-carbon transition. Building on the previous episode, Anna introduces these two energy personas in depth. Proactive energy managers actively adapt their behaviour shifting energy use, sharing knowledge, supporting others, and engaging with their communities. Reactive energy managers, by contrast, prioritise personal comfort, make fewer adjustments, and feel less connected to the people and places around them. Drawing on survey data and in-depth interviews in Bristol and Glasgow, this episode reveals how energy behaviour is closely tied to social identity, belonging, and neighbourhood design. Proactive energy users aren’t just helpful participants they could be essential partners in electrification, shaping local culture, informing policy, and supporting collective change. Next time: The myth of the passive consumer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

8. 

   15 Feb 2026

   Design for Collectives — Mini Episode: The Power of People in Energy Flexibility

   In this mini episode of Design for Collectives, Sonja Oliveira, Associate Dean and Professor in Architecture and Sustainability Design Innovation at the University of Strathclyde, explains what energy flexibility is and why it matters for a post-carbon future. As renewable energy grows, balancing supply and demand becomes more complex and simply upgrading technology won’t be enough. Through a simple neighbourhood comparison, this episode reveals something surprising: strong community relationships can directly shape how people use energy. Drawing on new research from the University of Strathclyde, Sonja explores how social identity influences energy behaviour, the difference between proactive and reactive energy managers, and why energy use is as much social as it is technical. Next time: a closer look at proactive vs reactive energy behaviours. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.