The concept of Transition Design was proposed by CMU (Carnegie Mellon University) in 2015; it focuses on the transition of a design-driven society to a more sustainable future (Social Design Sydney, 2017). People must deal with many "wicked" issues in twenty-first-century society: "climate change, forced migration, political and social polarization, global pandemics, lack of access to affordable housing/healthcare/education and many others (Carnegie Mellon University, 2015). The idea of transition is the key contemporary discussion – It is concerned with "how change is represented in complex systems and can be catalyzed and directed" (Carnegie Mellon University, 2015, p.2 ). What distinguishes transition design from other design frameworks is that it has a logical framework consisting of four areas of common development: 1. Visions for transition 2. Theories of change 3. Mindset and posture 4. New ways of designing. 

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1. A vision for transition

Visions of the future are open-ended and speculative, and their transition to a sustainable future must be ongoing. "Transition visioning is intended as a circular, iterative and error-friendly process (Carnegie Mellon University, 2015, para.5 )." It can be used to envision fresh ideas for the future, inspire action and provide hope for citizens.

 

  2. Theories of change

The theory of change is a set of theories that explain the dynamics of change within complex systems. It is important because asking questions requires a deep understanding of the dynamics of change in complex social and natural systems (Carnegie Mellon University, 2015). Through a deeper understanding of society, designers can gain a more open-minded inspiration to raise social issues.

 

  3. Posture and Mindset 

To carry out this work, people must remain open, cooperative and self-reflective (Carnegie Mellon University, 2015). Fundamental changes in people usually occur through life experiences or cultural and religious teachings that lead to a shift in mindset and worldview. Our life experiences influence our viewpoints, how we assess complex issues, and how we approach problem-solving. Designers must utilize a good holistic thinking perspective and not just focus on one subjective view, which means collaboration is vital in transition design.

 

  4. New ways of designing

For complex and challenging problems, transition designers need to learn how to see and solve them, because a single solution is not enough to solve complex problems; the solution must take ecological considerations into account. These solutions will lead, step by step, to a future created by shared sustainability.

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In summary, transition design envisages a sustainable and desirable way of living, which means that transition design focuses on how to create a more desirable future in social, political and ecological development.