Design Research for Mediterranean Social Development

This article focuses design role and practices in the Mediterranean countries. Text is based on researches within editorial activities at PAD Journal from 2008 to present, and on the organization of the Mediterranean Design contest in 2009 and 2010. The article describes a reading of design in the Mediterranean area and proposes a selection of projects developed in about the last 10 years, in different contexts in the Mediterranean area, offering answers to emerging problems by exploiting opportunities tied with territorial resources. Documented design activity acquires some relevance in a perspective comprising design as finalized to promote social and economic development through “social design” innovation.