Design anthropology for transforming power relations in societal transitions

This article makes the argument that design can serve the purpose of transforming power relations in societal transitions. The article discusses diverse theories of power and their relationship to design, whereby it considers aspects of agency, relationality and scale. Using a design anthropology approach, a theoretical framework is defined for the empirical study of power. The framework is operationalized in a local energy transition project in Amsterdam Southeast. In this empirical study, we describe three power relations that were encountered, the design interventions performed, and their transformative outcomes. Finally, the broader implications for design in societal transitions are discussed.