Design for the Real World argues that designers bear a profound moral and social responsibility. Victor Papanek fiercely criticizes the profession for focusing on creating frivolous, quickly obsolete consumer goods (like “streamlined toothbrushes”) for the affluent, viewing it as wasteful and irresponsible. He advocates for design to address genuine human needs, particularly serving the majority—the ordinary, the disabled, the elderly, and impoverished communities—while emphasizing ecological sustainability. Filled with pioneering case studies like low-cost radios for developing countries and tools for the disabled, its philosophy of “designing for need, not greed” remains a cornerstone of design ethics today.

Source: IMDb