Design Against Crime (DAC), as an approach to social innovation, emerged at University of the Arts London between 1999-2009+. The philosophy behind DAC at CSM is linked to a practice-led socially responsive design research agenda. It posits crime as a theme that can be addressed by using methodologies generated by social design (also referred to as Design for Society). This approach comprehends that because crime is not carbon neutral any design addressed also demands attention to multiple drivers including those used to measure sustainability. The Centre's focus is based on the understanding that design thinking as well as design practice should address security issues without compromising functionality and other aspects of performance, or aesthetics. In everyday language, secure design has to be user-friendly whilst abuser-unfriendly; but it doesn't have to look criminal or ugly.

DAC aims to:
Reduce the incidence and adverse consequences of crime through design of products, services, communications and environments that are fit for purpose and contextually appropriate in all other respects often in consultation with users/stakeholders or experts in the field who we invite to help us "co-create" design briefs.
Equip design practitioners with the cognitive and practical tools and resources to design out crime;
Prove and promote the social and commercial benefits of designing out crime to manufacturing and service industries, as well as to local and national government, and Society at large; and
Address environmental complicity with crime in the built environment to reduce crime; also to increase well being of individuals and communities, by applying design questioning and models of design thinking to social problems in order to deduce the most appropriate approach to their solution.

Language(s): English

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