“As homo sapiens’ entry in any intergalactic design competition, industrial civilization would be tossed out at the
qualifying round.”
— David Orr, Earth in Mind
Design has built global brands, disrupted industries, and transformed our lives with technology. It has also contributed
to the complex challenges we face today. In The Intergalactic Design Guide, business strategist and designer Cheryl Heller
shows how social design can help address our most pressing challenges, from poverty to climate change.
Social design offers a new approach to navigate uncertainty, increase creativity, strengthen relationships, and develop
our capacity to collaborate. Innovative leaders like Paul Farmer, Oprah Winfrey, and Marshall Ganz have instinctively
practiced social design for decades. Heller has worked with many of these pioneers, observing patterns in their methods
and translating them into an approach that can bring new creative energy to any organization. From disrupting the notion
of “expert” by seeking meaningful input from many voices to guiding progress through open-ended questions instead of
five-year plans, social design changes how humans relate to each other, with powerful positive impacts.
The Intergalactic Design Guide explains eleven common principles, a step-by-step process, and the essential skills for
successful social design. Nine in-depth examples—from the CEO of the largest carpet manufacturer in the world to a
young entrepreneur with a passion for reducing food waste—illustrate the social design process in action.
Social design is a new kind of creative leadership that generates both traditional and social value, and can change the
way we all view our work. Whether you are launching a start-up or managing a global NGO, The Intergalactic Design
Guide provides both inspiration and practical steps for designing a more resilient and fulfilling future.